Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of September 7, 2010.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, neck, right shoulder, and left shoulder disorders due to inadequate opinions in prior VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder and somatic symptom disorder, right shoulder impingement syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome L4-L5, left hip trochanteric pain syndrome, iliopsoas bursitis limitation of flexion, right hip trochanteric pain syndrome, iliopsoas bursitis, limitation of flexion, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right wrist sprain. The Veteran's bilateral eye condition, eczema, left foot ring-toe condition, and sinusitis have also been dismissed.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tear are currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating under DC 5201. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and degenerative arthritis have been granted a 30 percent rating effective from October 5, 2022.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for joint conditions including arthritis due to a lack of an adequate etiological opinion. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen their claims of service connection for a psychiatric disability and left shoulder disability has been dismissed due to the withdrawal by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his combined rating of service-connected disabilities has been at least 100 percent throughout the appeal period, and he was not found to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to procedural errors and insufficient examination reports. The Veteran's right shoulder disability and any related sleep disorder need to be evaluated with additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for a left shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, and lumbar spine disorder due to inadequate medical opinions and need for clarification on whether a left shoulder disorder is currently diagnosed.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, right knee disability secondary to hypertension, right shoulder disability secondary to hypertension, and low back disability (narrowing of the disc space L4-L5 with degenerative changes at L5-S1) secondary to hypertension due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability, to include arthritis. The remaining issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability, left shoulder strain, and psychiatric disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's neck disability and its relationship to her service-connected low back disability and right lower extremity disability. The issues of reopening claims for service connection for headaches, right upper extremity disabilities, and left shoulder disabilities are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right shoulder conditions due to inadequate medical opinions. Further development is needed to obtain an adequate opinion based on the Veteran's reports of in-service injuries.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder arthritis was denied, but the Board granted service connection for his left arm 'Popeye' deformity as due to his service-connected left shoulder arthritis.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 30 percent prior to October 28, 2021 and at 60 percent since December 1, 2022. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left shoulder disorders due to new evidence showing current diagnoses and a causal relationship to active service. The effective date remains March 28, 2016, as this is when VA received the claim leading to the award of service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) as there is no evidence that his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right shoulder bicipital tendonitis has been rated at 40 percent since May 20, 2014. The Board denied a higher rating as the disability does not warrant an increase to more than 40 percent.

The appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim for HIV. The claims of service connection for neck, low back, right knee, left knee, and left shoulder disabilities have been remanded due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder tendonitis was denied due to his failure to report for a VA examination scheduled in conjunction with the appeal.