Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD; sleep disorder; lumbar spine disability; right lower extremity disability; left lower extremity disability; skin disability; right shoulder disability; left shoulder disability; bilateral hearing loss; tinnitus; headaches; and dizziness. The Veteran's period of active service is not established as honorable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and back disabilities have been granted, but the appeals are still pending as they were remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine and right shoulder disabilities are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's liver condition is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities due to insufficient reasons provided in a previous VA opinion. The Veteran is required to provide an addendum opinion addressing his contentions of continuous pain since service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records, specifically quality assurance and nurses' notes related to the Veteran's August 2008 left shoulder surgery. The AOJ is required to obtain these records and determine if they contain any information that could support or refute the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in total unemployability, as he has not provided specific information about his employment history and income levels.

The Board has remanded the claims for right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with its prior remand directives and the Veteran's claims for service connection related to Camp Lejeune contaminated water exposure, Agent Orange exposure, and chronic fatigue condition are being remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, jammed left shoulder, chronic right elbow disability, chronic left elbow disability, chronic right knee disability, chronic left knee disability, and unspecified joint disease. These claims are now remanded to allow for further development.,The Board also dismissed the claim of entitlement to service connection for diverticulitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability was reopened, but his claims for left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities were not. Service connection is granted for a deviated nasal septum due to presumed exposure during active duty. Service connection is also granted for rhinitis due to presumed exposure during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder condition, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease leading to current symptoms.,For bilateral pes planus, the Board found no clear and unmistakable evidence showing pre-existing condition aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for neck, back, right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities. The claims are being remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for a back disability and a right shoulder disability due to jurisdictional issues.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right thigh disability, and left shoulder disability are all remanded for further evaluation. The VA will schedule examinations to assess the severity of these conditions and determine if they are related to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder condition and a left knee condition, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service injuries. Service connection was denied for dental trauma due to lack of evidence showing loss of substance of the body of the maxilla or mandible.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left great toe bone fusion, shoulder disabilities, knee disability, and ankle disabilities. The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is not a service-connected condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for tinnitus due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal. The right shoulder disability claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral ankle, elbow, shoulder, wrist, hand, hip, and knee disabilities due to toxic exposures during his service in the Gulf War.

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD, OSA, HTN, and other conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to determine their etiology.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the cervical spine and left shoulder disability claims due to inadequate medical opinions. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.