Shoulder decisions — 2023

Your appeal for service connection for right and left shoulder conditions has been dismissed because you requested to withdraw your hearing request.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disability, but denied service connection for all other conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for a temporary total evaluation and increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left ankle disorder, and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left ankle disorder, and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has found that the development conducted does not comply with prior remands and thus, the cases are being returned to the AOJ for further action. Specifically, an addendum VA medical opinion is needed regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for a retrospective medical opinion and to consider whether an extraschedular TDIU rating is warranted. The Veteran's left shoulder impingement disability remains rated at 20 percent, which does not meet his claim for a higher rating.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has not been productive of limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side, and his current evaluation for a minor arm (left) is maintained at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death. The Board did not address the merits of the claims as they are now moot.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypoglycemia was denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability. The appeal for psychiatric disability (claimed as insomnia and anxiety) was granted based on the February 2019 VA examination report.,Service connection for right shoulder, left arm, right arm, left leg, and right leg disabilities were all denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or post-service onset. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability meeting the regulatory requirements.

The Veteran's tension headaches are granted service connection and a 50% rating is granted for his right shoulder disability. The effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased ratings are not established.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including right and left shoulder disabilities, elbow/arm disability, wrist disabilities, knee disabilities with shin splints, low back disability, neuropathy of the lower extremities, cold weather injury residuals, sleep apnea, TBI, and vertigo. The appeals are based on a direct relationship to service without any presumption or secondary connection.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection of various musculoskeletal disabilities and fibromyalgia must be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions provided in prior VA examinations. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded as it may significantly impact the outcome of these service connection issues.

The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service or any environment exposures.

The Board has granted service connection for left tibia and/or fibula fracture, left ankle tendonitis, intervertebral disc syndrome, and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint separation with degenerative arthritis. These conditions are all determined to be related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and anxiety have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his requests to proceed with these issues.,Service connection has been granted for right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right hip disorder, and left knee disorder. The Veteran's obesity is considered an intermediate step between his service-connected back disability and these disorders.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was added to the record since the last decision and requires further consideration. The Veteran is being asked to waive initial AOJ review of this new evidence.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition has worsened since his last examination, and a new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and a stomach condition (epigastric type) as there is no evidence of any injury, event or disease during his honorable period of active service that may be associated with these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of right wrist, shoulder, elbow, and bicep disabilities due to outstanding service treatment records not being obtained.

The claims for service connection for a back disorder, right knee disorder, and pes planus are reopened.,The claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder is denied.,The claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim.