Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The issues of prostate, erectile dysfunction, GERD, GI ulcer, and sleep condition are related to the Veteran's in-service stressors or symptoms.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, right elbow epicondylitis, right sciatica, and acquired psychiatric disabilities. The Veteran's reports of pain during active duty have been considered, along with her STRs, to find that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to her service.

The Veteran's PTSD, left shoulder disorder, and headache disorder are all granted service connection. However, the lower back, right hip, and left hip disorders do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for cervical spine degenerative joint disease with degenerative disc disease, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, and right shoulder rotator cuff tear with glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joint degenerative changes due to a lack of adequate VA opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of left ankle condition, right ankle condition, bilateral pes planus (also claimed as left foot condition), respiratory condition, left shoulder condition, left knee condition, neck/cervical spine condition, and lower back/spine/thoracic spine condition have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's initial claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and left shoulder disability have been denied.,No compensable ratings were assigned for any of the conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various shoulder and knee conditions due to a lack of VA examination, which is necessary to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

Your right shoulder condition was previously granted service connection in November 2021, effective February 27, 2009. The claim is dismissed as moot because the issue has already been resolved.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as of April 27, 2018 because he has a combined disability rating of 100% for his service-connected disabilities and the appeal is moot due to the grant of a 100% disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right shoulder osteoarthritis, left shoulder degenerative arthritis (status-post rotator cuff repair), diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service injury or illness related to these conditions.,The March 2023 VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, right shoulder osteoarthritis, left shoulder degenerative arthritis (status-post rotator cuff repair), diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are not likely related to his active service.

The Veteran's left shoulder supraspinatus tendon tear is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that it is related to an in-service motor vehicle accident and/or pre-existing symptoms.,Bilateral cataracts are also granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board found that the current bilateral cataracts were caused by the Veteran's diabetes.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and acquired pes cavus were granted a 50 percent rating effective April 28, 2017. The claims for service connection for tinnitus, headaches, diabetes mellitus type II, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, hypertension, sleep disability, vision loss, and right shoulder disability are all remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability, finding that it did not have its onset during active service and is unrelated to such service.

The Veteran's neck condition and right shoulder condition have been granted service connection. The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder has been increased to a 70% rating, effective from December 8, 2017.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for COPD, allergic rhinitis, and a left shoulder disability as these claims have been fully granted in an October 2023 rating decision.,Service connection is granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's left shoulder arthritis, onychomycosis of the toes, gout, mental health disability (Major Depressive Disorder), hypertension, right thumb arthritis, left knee arthritis, and Morton's neuroma of the right foot have all been granted service connection.,Additionally, the issue of entitlement to service connection for splenomegaly, anemia, and a right foot disability other than Morton's neuroma has been remanded.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current level of severity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and additional medical opinions regarding his sleep apnea, tinnitus, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, and nonservice-connected pension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities, particularly those related to secondary service connection.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 26, 2016 for the assignment of a 30 percent disability rating for chronic sinusitis. The Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disabilities and bilateral tinea pedis are remanded due to incomplete information.