Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including OSA, lumbar degenerative disc disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, and anxiety disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and experience.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for PTSD, lumbar spine degenerative changes, and right shoulder impingement syndrome. The VA will obtain any relevant Vet Center records and schedule the Veteran for a comprehensive examination to assess the severity of his conditions.

Service connection is denied for hearing loss in the left ear, a respiratory disorder, restless leg syndrome, a heart disorder, and a left shoulder disability.,An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, right elbow, left elbow, right wrist, and left wrist disorders. The acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety) is also remanded.

Service connection for a right shoulder disability, thoracic spine disability, and cervical spine disability has been denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is remanded due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's low back condition is granted as service connection due to continuity of symptoms since the initial injury in 1974.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition is granted as service connection due to continuity of symptoms since the initial injury in 1973.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right ankle disorder, right knee disorder, and back disorder are not service-connected.,The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and a TDIU is granted for the period prior to October 4, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for insomnia disorder and left shoulder disability manifested by limitation of motion, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected anterior trunk scars. The decision is based on a finding that there is reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of his right hand condition, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, and neck disability. The VA must obtain new medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right shoulder disability, neck disability, and hypertension due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The appeals seeking increased ratings for right and left knee degenerative joint disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine have been dismissed. The issues of service connection for a left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right hand/wrist disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and foot disability (including pes planus and plantar fasciitis) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and left shoulder disorders due to insufficient evidence of a current disability, in-service injury or disease, and nexus between the claimed conditions and service. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current right knee and left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, right shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder impingement syndrome, bilateral pes planus, and lumbar spine DDD are granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to his migraine headaches, hypertension, left shoulder disability, arthritis of the hands and right foot. The Board has determined that additional development is needed for these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding no current diagnosis or functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for right ankle, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities. The Board finds these issues are not resolved and requires further examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current right ankle, right shoulder, or left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal disorder, right knee disorder, and several musculoskeletal disorders are granted service connection. Service connection for tinnitus is also granted. The Veteran's claims for left shoulder, right shoulder, left elbow, right elbow, left wrist, right wrist, left hip, right hip, left ankle, right ankle, and bilateral lower extremity venous insufficiency have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.