Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, a left shoulder disability, and a left leg disability due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, Lyme disease, eczema, and an earlier effective date for anemia due to the appellant's withdrawal of these issues.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is granted service connection. Service connection for sleep apnea, tinnitus, right knee disability, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability are denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the appellant requested to withdraw all BVA appeals that are currently pending at the BVA.

The Veteran's eczema (skin rashes) and impingement of the right shoulder are related to his active military service, but the Board finds that VA did not obtain adequate medical opinions prior to the February 2019 rating decision. The Veteran's back condition is related to service, but the VA medical opinions do not address whether it was aggravated by service.,The Veteran's multilevel spondylosis with facet arthropathy of the lumbar spine is related to his active military service and is not aggravated by service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA, right shoulder disorder, CFS, and migraines due to a lack of VA examinations addressing the etiology of these conditions. The AOJ is required to provide clarifying medical opinions on remand.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been dismissed as the issue was fully granted in a previous rating decision. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and right shoulder condition are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hearing loss, left ankle collateral ligament sprain, left lower extremity sciatic nerve pain, left shoulder glenohumeral joint and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, myopia and retinal hole lattice degeneration (claimed as bilateral eye retina problems, thinning, and vision decrease), right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, right knee strain, right lower extremity sciatic nerve pain, right shoulder glenohumeral joint and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, a severe stomach and colon condition, fibromyalgia, steatohepatitis, vertigo and balance issues, and flat feet; and entitlement to increased evaluations for lumbosacral strain, GERD, left knee strain, restrictive lung disease, allergic rhinitis, PB, a skin rash, and tension headaches. The Veteran was also remanded for VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and tinnitus.

The appeal to reopen claims for service connection for a left shoulder scar, back scar, and stomach scar is granted. The appeals to reopen the claims for service connection for back and stomach scars are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with obtaining necessary service treatment records, specifically the Veteran's discharge Report of Medical History. The claim will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence indicating current TBI, headaches, chest pain, right shoulder condition, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities. The issues will be addressed with additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination reports and lack of substantial compliance with previous directives.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to bilateral hand-twitching, tinnitus, or PTSD that would warrant an increase in rating. The Veteran was granted TDIU based on her PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right shoulder, bilateral knees, and migraine headaches have been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for a lymph node disability (claimed as neck ulcer) is remanded. The claim of service connection for migraine headaches is also remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that his current condition is related to two motor vehicle accidents he was involved in during active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, left hip, right hip, and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine disability with bilateral intervertebral disc syndrome, left shoulder rotator cuff injury, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations to assess current severity.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the VA examination used for the August 2021 decision. The Veteran's right shoulder condition needs to be re-evaluated with an adequate examination.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left hip, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities, as well as her headaches, are not service-connected. The claims for these conditions have been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or causation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development and lack of VA medical opinions. The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and right shoulder disorder are still under review.