Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is granted service connection, and a 50% rating for PTSD prior to June 17, 2020 is granted. Other claims are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left hip disorder, right shoulder disorder, and psychiatric disorder.,There is no evidence linking these conditions to service or any period of active duty.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, which includes rotator cuff tendinopathy, arthritis of the AC joint, and bicep tendonitis, has not met the criteria for a higher rating prior to November 11, 2019.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for left shoulder disorder and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that there is no current diagnosis of such condition and insufficient evidence to establish a link between his in-service activities and any present symptoms.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have neuropathy of either upper extremity and is therefore denying service connection for this condition. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, left elbow, right elbow, left shoulder, and right shoulder disorders are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to outstanding VA medical records and the need to consider whether any of his service-connected disabilities, including left shoulder arthritis, meet the criteria for a TDIU. The AOJ will reassess the TDIU issue in light of all available evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left shoulder / left arm disorder on a direct basis is denied. The secondary service connection issue is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and the Board denies entitlement to a TDIU on both schedular and extraschedular grounds.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for service connection for various conditions, including shoulder and knee issues and eyelid problems. The claims were dismissed as a result.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for rating purposes, necessitating further examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has denied a higher rating for the Veteran's sacroiliac joint and lumbar spine degenerative disease prior to October 1, 2018. The case is remanded for further examination regarding his left shoulder impingement syndrome.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, allergic rhinitis, neck disorder, left shoulder disorder, left elbow disorder, low back disorder, left hip disorder, left knee disorder, and left ankle disorder due to a lack of post-service treatment records. The Veteran is requested to submit or authorize VA to obtain any relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck disability is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his left arm shrapnel wound scar. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his painful and unstable scars of anterior chest, shoulder, and penis, as there are no five or more scars that are both painful and unstable. His left lower extremity scars have been resolved to be noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examination opinions and need for additional development, including obtaining MPRs and STRs.

The Veteran's left acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, status post total left shoulder arthroplasty, is granted as service connected. The right shoulder disability issue is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits file.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for recurrent lumbar spine and right shoulder disabilities due to incomplete records and a need to obtain SSA disability benefits information.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for headaches, sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability. The Veteran's current chronic headache condition began in, and has continued since, active service.