Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder requires a remand for further examination and evaluation, as the most recent VA examination did not account for flare-ups and repetitive use of the shoulder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip condition, bilateral knee condition, osteoarthritis and bilateral shoulder condition due to insufficient discussion of the McLendon criteria in previous decisions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea has been granted. The rating for PTSD and left shoulder disability is remanded, as well as the TDIU claim.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder tendonitis and rotator cuff condition, finding no evidence of in-service injury or chronic disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side, which would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's combined rating is already at 100%, but the Board found insufficient evidence to support a TDIU based on any single service-connected disability.

The claim to reopen service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted. The case is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an opinion on whether LUE radiculopathy aggravates the left shoulder disability.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee, left knee (secondary to right knee), and right shoulder disabilities. The case is being remanded for further evaluation of the Veteran's rash of the entire body.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's rash of the entire body as there is no evidence of chronicity of care or a positive medical nexus.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination reports and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is being evaluated again for a more accurate assessment of its severity.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's right wrist and right shoulder disabilities due to inadequate previous opinions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is rated at 10 percent before August 1, 2017 and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's left shoulder arthritis remains at a 20 percent rating.,Both conditions are currently rated based on their direct service connection without any additional factors like exposure or presumptions.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff, and bursitis have been granted a disability rating of 40 percent, effective June 6, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for his left shoulder condition is reopened, and the claims for service connection for his left elbow and wrist conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and multiple orthopedic conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he meets the requirements for a TDIU based on his combined disability ratings.

The Board dismissed the claims as they are related to deceased Veteran's death and no longer have jurisdiction over them.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 40 percent, which is the highest possible rating for limitation of motion of the arm. The Veteran's impairment of the right clavicle or scapula warrants a separate 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5203.,The Veteran's respiratory disability of the nose and throat, including rhinitis and sinusitis, is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its onset in service or relation to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to allegations of injuries during training exercises. The DROC is tasked with verifying these incidents and obtaining medical opinions on whether the appellant's current disabilities are related to her military service.

The Board denied service connection for left arm/shoulder and right shoulder disorders, finding that the Veteran did not have a chronic condition during her active duty or within one year of discharge. The Board also found no evidence linking current diagnoses to service.

The Board has found that the VA examiner's opinion is inadequate and requires a new examination to determine if the Veteran's left shoulder strain is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected back condition.

The Veteran's impingement syndrome of the right shoulder resulted in limited arm motion, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to functional impairment and pain. The current rating of 30% is maintained.