Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions. The VA is directed to obtain additional medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service or any environmental exposures.

The Board has denied the Veteran's surviving spouse's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, sleep apnea, right ankle condition, and arthritis of the left shoulder as DIC benefits because she remarried after his death.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral shoulder condition and arteriosclerotic heart disease, but has remanded the claim of PTSD with anxiety and depression due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's TBI and left shoulder disability have been granted service connection. The reduction of the left shoulder rating from 20% to noncompensable was found to be improper.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on his left shoulder and knee disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim, was denied. The decision found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right shoulder and left shoulder conditions have been dismissed as she withdrew her appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, left wrist disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, low back disorder, and right ankle disorder based on the Veteran's credible statements of in-service injury and subsequent disability.

The Veteran's sinusitis, right shoulder strain, left bicipital tendonitis, and thoracolumbar strain have been granted initial ratings. Right leg radiculopathy service connection has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis s/p arthroscopy with posterior labral and repair and right wrist ganglion cyst were granted, effective March 5, 2019.

The Board has identified pre-decisional errors and requires the AOJ to correct them by obtaining a full service record, including additional periods of active and inactive duty. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a rating of 50 percent, but no higher. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. Service connection is granted for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to herbicides and/or disabilities. Service connection is also granted for GERD, migraine headaches, TBI, neck disability, and low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, but remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and missing VA treatment records. The claims will be reviewed again after obtaining additional evidence.

The Veteran's right shoulder, right knee, and headache disorders are granted service connection. The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, lumbar spine disorder, lower extremity disorder (to include radiculopathy), and bilateral hip disorders are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his right and left hip osteoarthritis is denied. The appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his right shoulder strain is remanded.,Additional information on the impact of flare-ups is needed to determine appropriate functional loss.

The Board has determined that the appellant's discharge from service does not constitute a bar to VA benefits, and has remanded for further action on his claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to outstanding service treatment records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence on file.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck disorder, left shoulder disorder, and left knee disorder. The case is remanded for further development regarding the left ankle disorder.,Service connection was also denied for a left hip disorder in this decision.