Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, right and left shoulder disorders, cervical spine disorder, left and right ankle disorders, headaches, chronic pain syndrome, left shin splints, and right shin splints. The case is being remanded to allow for further examination and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral shoulder, shin splints, or skin disability. The cervical spine and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy disabilities are remanded for further development.,Service connection is denied for OSA as there is no evidence to support its onset during service or due to a service-connected condition.

Service connection for TBI, OSA, and left shoulder strain has been granted.,Effective dates have not been established for the above conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,An effective date prior to December 26, 2017, for the award of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, hypertension, glaucoma, a back disability, diabetes, and OSA have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities (right and left) and right shoulder disability are remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Board has granted service connection for recurrent left shoulder injury residuals, finding that the Veteran's current condition originated during her active military service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records and medical treatment records from USNH Great Lakes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disorder, finding that it did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter and is not otherwise causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection is being remanded due to the complexity of the issues.,For tinnitus, a higher rating is denied as it does not meet the criteria for extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his complaints of skin, shoulder, knee, and foot/ankle disorders. The examination must be conducted during a period when the rash is manifest, and efforts should be made to take color photos of the head and face area where the rash manifests.

The Veteran's arthritis of the right knee is granted as service-connected.,Right leg shin splints and left leg shin splints are denied as not service-connected.

The Board has denied service connection for right shoulder arthritis and strain, left shoulder arthritis and strain, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, and prostate cancer as there is no evidence of chronic symptoms during or within one year after service separation.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's neck and shoulder muscle disability, finding that it meets the criteria for a severe disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in the July 2015 VA examination report and the Veteran's reported right shoulder pain during service. A new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has a right shoulder disability and whether it is related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's right shoulder condition will be further evaluated based on his reported in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for left shoulder impingement syndrome, seborrhea dermatitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and costochondritis due to new evidence indicating that their severity may have worsened since their last examinations in March 2020.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, right and left ankle disabilities, right and left knee disabilities, and right and left shoulder disabilities have been granted. The service connection is established based on direct evidence of a current disability, in-service exposure to noise, and continuity of symptoms since separation from service.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder and photophobia and convergence insufficiency, finding no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after service.,Service records did not show any complaints or findings related to these conditions. The Veteran's current diagnoses were noted years after service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now considered. The Board has granted service connection for OSA, GERD, headaches, sinusitis, rhinitis, and throat disorder.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the addition of new medical records since the last decision in February 2021. The Veteran was given an opportunity to have these records considered by the agency of original jurisdiction before the Board's consideration.