Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, right shoulder, left shoulder, right ankle, and left ankle conditions due to a lack of examination related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) under the PACT Act and an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including left eye conjunctivitis, left foot disability, right foot disability, right hip disability, and right shoulder disability have been denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability or relationship to service.

The Board dismissed the claim for a compensable disability rating for left shoulder acromioclavicular separation as the Veteran did not submit a formal claim or notice of disagreement regarding this issue.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for headaches, lumbar spine disability, left shoulder disability, and left knee disability due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted due to his service-connected stroke, which precludes him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for an aneurysm of the descending aorta and left shoulder condition, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition and nausea have been granted. However, the Veteran does not have current disabilities in these areas.,For the remaining issues, including hiatal hernia, shortness of breath (claimed as secondary to burn pit exposure), migraines, xerostomia, IBS, GERD, and right shoulder impingement syndrome, service connection has been denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including hypertension, neck disability, right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, right knee and left knee disabilities, prostate disability, bilateral hand numbness, headache disorder, and respiratory disability. The Veteran's preexisting conditions were not shown to be aggravated by service or otherwise related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings has been granted, with a 50% rating for post-prosthetic replacement of the left shoulder joint effective September 3, 2015; a 10% rating for painful surgical scars of the left shoulder; and a 30% rating for adjustment disorder, chronic sleep impairment, and sexual dysfunction due to shoulder pain. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has denied service connection for right big toe injury, but has remanded the issues of service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome with glenohumeral joint dislocation, lower back injury/strain, and right ankle injury/strain. Service connection is also remanded for anxiety with depression and insomnia.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disorder, fibromyalgia condition, right and left ankle disorders. The claims are being returned for new VA medical opinions considering the Veteran's exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right knee disability, left knee disability, and left shoulder disability are all found to be related to his active service.,Service connection is granted for each of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for SMC at the housebound rate is denied as he does not meet the threshold requirements for such a grant due to his service-connected disabilities and their ratings.

Service connection is granted for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, and degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder. Service connection is also granted for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle and right ankle.

The Board has decided to remand several claims for further action, including obtaining SSA records and considering the Veteran's entitlement to TDIU and SMC.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as she withdrew all remaining issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar, cervical, and bilateral shoulder disorders due to inadequate medical opinions that did not consider the Veteran's lay reports of continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's back disability is granted as service-connected. The issues of left hand, right hand, bilateral lung condition (embolism), right shoulder, right knee, and left knee conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities and a back disability due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's lay testimony regarding her symptoms from service.