Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including VA treatment records from December 2022 onwards, private treatment records from Drs. Pa. and/or Po., and a new examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional records to be obtained and an addendum opinion on the left arm pain radiating to the fingertips of the left hand. The issue of an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder arthritis is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar spine, right shoulder, bilateral hands, and left shoulder due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between his current conditions and military service. The case will be returned for a VA examination.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by limitation of motion and recurrent dislocations, is granted with a 30 percent rating for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's tinnitus and sleep apnea are granted as service connected. The remaining issues of right shoulder, low back, neck, left knee, costochondritis, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations of various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying his periods of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of pharyngitis and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The remaining issues are remanded due to lack of recent VA examination or opinion.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder and back disabilities. The claims are being remanded to obtain missing VA records, provide addendum opinions regarding aggravation of the shoulder disability by a spine condition, and consider private chiropractic records related to the Veteran's back.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected right ankle, left shoulder, and left radial nerve injury disabilities. The issues on appeal have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder condition is denied as he does not have a current disability of the left shoulder and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective September 6, 2016.,Service connection for fibromyalgia, low back disability, neck disability, shoulder disability, lung disability to include COPD, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder acromioclavicular joint arthritis with supraspinatus tendinopathy is granted a 30 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the decision. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae was dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DD Form 214 and other documentation verifying his service from 1990-1999 are missing, and therefore remands for further efforts to obtain this information. The Veteran is also scheduled for an examination to determine if any of his current disabilities (sleep apnea, sinusitis, right shoulder, neck, bilateral foot nerve compression, and bilateral shin) had their onset during or are related to a period of active duty service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, tension headaches, PTSD with alcohol use disorder and TBI residuals, left sciatic radicular pain, and right sciatic radicular pain are all denied. The Veteran is granted service connection for left and right sciatic radicular pain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete examination reports and need for clarification of his knee and shoulder disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to joint disease disability, as well as pension benefits prior to March 19, 2021, and special monthly pension. The Veteran's joint disabilities are being examined again to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's asthma and COPD are presumed to be due to exposure to fine particulate matter in the Persian Gulf War. Service connection for these conditions is granted from August 5, 2021. The low back disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability remain pending for resolution.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 10 percent, and the case is remanded for further development.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and dextroscoliosis is denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development due to the addition of relevant VA examination reports and treatment records after previous statements of the case were issued.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since November 8, 2010. Effective from that date, he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance.