Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for left shoulder strain is remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records and missing physical therapy records.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder bicipital tendonitis and glenohumeral joint instability as a new and material condition, based on the Veteran's credible testimony of in-service shoulder dislocation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder DJD as secondary to his service-connected RLE radiculopathy or any other lower extremity service-connected disability, finding that there is no causal relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his current right shoulder DJD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability was incurred in or caused by military service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including left ankle, foot, wrist, shoulder, low back, and right knee injuries. The VA examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a shoulder disability and a lung disability, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to support these claims.,Service connection was not granted because the medical opinions provided by VA examiners concluded that the current disabilities are not related to in-service events or diseases.

The reduction of the rating for the Veteran's right shoulder disability from 30 percent to 10 percent was improper, and restoration is granted. The entitlement to a higher rating for the right shoulder disability is denied. The TDIU prior to April 2, 2021 is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left hip, right hip, left foot, right foot, left ankle, and right ankle conditions. The right shoulder condition was also granted as service connected.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition and the Veteran did not have any in-service or post-service treatment related to his right shoulder.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent prior to June 2, 2023. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including back disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, left eye disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability. The decision is based on incomplete VA treatment records from the period of appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee osteoarthritis, left and right shoulder impingement syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy in the right lower extremity, femoral nerve radiculopathy, and right hip trochanteric syndrome with osteoarthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. As such, he is granted TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is granted a 10% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied for other conditions.,Bilateral hearing loss and bilateral plantar fasciitis are not service connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left shoulder and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, cervicothoracic spine pain with cephalgia, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and left hip conditions. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these disabilities and military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's low back disability, right shoulder disability, and TDIU claim prior to December 17, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied, and the Board found no basis to assign an earlier effective date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right shoulder condition, specifically addressing whether it is related to service or a service-connected knee disability. The Veteran contends his current shoulder condition may be aggravated by his service-connected knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including low back pain, neck strain, shoulder strain, hip and knee issues. The reasons include lack of documentation during service, reports of chronic symptoms originating in service, and poor training conditions.

The Board has determined that the claims for initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and migraine headaches, as well as service connection for right shoulder disability and back strain, require additional development due to incomplete records and need for updated medical opinions.