Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The appeal is dismissed as to the claims of service connection for PTSD, residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and a deviated septum. The appeals are remanded for further development on the remaining issues.

The Board has reopened the claims for right shoulder, left shoulder, kidney disability (secondary to herbicide exposure), low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension. However, service connection was not granted for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, is granted.,Service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are both established. The Veteran also has service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.,Right shoulder disability, right heel spur, and right knee condition (secondary) have been granted.,Service connection for a right knee condition remains pending as it was remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of her appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder, left ankle sprain with arthritis, and right ankle fracture with arthritis disabilities preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claims on appeal, including his neck disability, left shoulder disability, nerve disorder of the left upper extremity, and left elbow disability.

The Board has denied service connection for a respiratory disability, an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD, MDD, and Schizoid personality disorder, and a bilateral shoulder disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions had their onset during active duty or were related to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, shortness of breath, headaches, and shoulder, neck, lumbar spine, and leg disabilities, should be remanded due to lack of reliable audiometric testing results and need for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety), right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various ankle and hip conditions, as well as a neck condition. The case will be returned to VA for further examination and determination of etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinions and further development is needed. The Veteran's OSA may be service connected as aggravated by his service-connected disabilities and/or medications.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms, as well as a need for an addendum opinion from another examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 6, 2010, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to this date.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for lumbar spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The cases are remanded for additional examinations.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that it must be denied based on the date of claim. The effective date of service connection and TDIU cannot precede February 21, 2007 due to the filing dates of the claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right shoulder rotator cuff tear was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without providing good cause.

The Board has remanded the claims for left shoulder septic arthritis, increased rating for lumbar spine disability, and TDIU due to insufficient medical opinions regarding causation and severity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not establish that he is in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, is permanently bedridden, is substantially confined to his home or immediate premises, or has a single service-connected disability rated 100 percent and a separate service-connected disability or disabilities independently rated 60 percent or more.