Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his left elbow condition, cubital tunnel syndrome, shoulder condition, back condition, knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, eye condition, neuropathy of the hands, and neuropathy of the feet.,The Veteran's appeal is also remanded for an examination and opinion regarding his bilateral cubital tunnel syndrome (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome).,The Veteran's appeal is also remanded for an examination and opinion regarding his shoulder condition.,The Veteran's appeal is also remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his back condition.,The Veteran's appeals are all remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his knee, eye, hand, and foot conditions.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (cyclothymic disorder and PTSD) appeal is also remanded for an examination and opinion regarding its etiology.,The Veteran's appeals are all remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his eye condition.,The Veteran's appeals are all remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his hand and foot conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder and remanded it due to need for further examination. The Veteran's claim for hypertrophic scar on the right shoulder is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder condition is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left arm disability. The TDIU issue is also deferred until the right shoulder issue is resolved.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to June 3, 2019, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disabilities, Meniere's disease, cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and lumbosacral spine disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's complete service treatment records are not available.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder limitation of motion and recurrent dislocation of the right shoulder. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for a thoracolumbar spine disability and left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including scheduling him for VA examinations to address his service connection and rating issues.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates prior to April 19, 2016 for the grants of service connection for right and left shoulder strains and for right and left knee strains have been denied. The Board found that no claims were received prior to April 19, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to high cholesterol, visual disability, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, prostate cancer residuals, and ischemic heart disease have been granted under the PACT Act. The claim for bilateral shoulder disability remains pending.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and consideration, including obtaining addendum opinions regarding service connection for various conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and bilateral knee conditions due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is granted service connection. The cases for left shoulder condition and right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis are remanded.

The case is on appeal for increased disability ratings and a TDIU. The issues include right ankle, right elbow, and right shoulder disabilities. These matters are REMANDED due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome has been reopened, but the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of CFS.,Service connection for neck disability and right shoulder disability is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The rating for hypothyroidism is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA remand instructions were not followed and thus the claims for service connection are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss have been granted service connection. The fracture of the fourth metacarpal, left hand has not been granted a compensable rating. Service connection for right shoulder condition, right ankle injury, and left ankle injury is remanded.

The March 21, 1997 decision reducing the Veteran's rating from 10% to noncompensable was revised due to a clear and unmistakable error. The 10% rating for myofascial pain of the right shoulder girdle muscles with radiculopathy to the neck is restored.