Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating and earlier effective date for his right shoulder degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher than 20 percent rating prior to November 7, 2017.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her previously denied claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted. The Board has also remanded the issue of determining whether she can establish service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a right elbow disorder and a right shoulder disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis or a link to in-service events. The Veteran's right knee scars were also denied an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent effective April 19, 2000. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted from August 1, 2001.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities, as secondary to his service-connected headache disability. The claims will be reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to incomplete evaluations, including lack of opinions regarding the etiology of her musculoskeletal conditions and skin disorder. The issues are inextricably intertwined as they all relate to reactive arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck, back, left hip, left shoulder, and right and left leg disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, right shoulder, left shoulder, back, neck, and respiratory conditions are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has reopened the service connection claim for respiratory disability and remanded the claims for bilateral knee and shoulder disabilities due to secondary service connection. The Veteran's current respiratory condition may be related to his in-service symptoms, but further examination is needed.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and left knee Osgood-Schlatter's disease. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was found to be preexisting but not aggravated by service.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for a low back condition is denied.,The claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and left ankle conditions are remanded.,The claim for service connection for acid reflux (GERD) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection of right lower extremity radiculopathy and increased rating for major right shoulder disability are denied. The Veteran was not granted these benefits until March 17, 2017.,For the psychiatric disability, the Veteran received a grant of increased ratings from June 2, 2021 onwards.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left wrist disability has been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right wrist, acquired psychiatric disabilities (depression and anxiety), residual scars of the right upper extremity, residual painful scars of the right upper extremity, and right shoulder disabilities manifesting in glenohumeral joint dislocation and limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability has been reopened. The Board finds that the evidence received since the final November 2013 rating decision is new and material, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim. However, further examination and medical opinion are needed due to conflicting diagnoses and theories of etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder, back, and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's lay statements regarding symptom onset will be considered.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's service records and the need to obtain relevant medical records, including SSA disability benefits records and private treatment records. The effective date claim remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for evaluations of his bilateral shoulder disabilities, as well as his claim for a TDIU and compensable evaluation for scars. The issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection, including those related to lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, skin disorder, sinusitis, GERD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for further analysis regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected left subcutaneous mastectomy with loss of pectoral muscle substance caused or aggravated his current left shoulder conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, left shoulder and residuals of a head injury disabilities. However, due to incomplete records from his in-service period, a remand is necessary to obtain VA examinations to determine the etiology of these disabilities.