Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and a compensable disability rating has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent prior to April 20, 2022 and at 30 percent since then. The current rating of 30 percent is denied as the evidence does not show limitation of motion to 25 degrees from side.,TDIU was also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to determine if the Veteran's right knee and bilateral shoulder disorders are related to herbicide agent exposure or military duties during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disability, finding that his current condition is not related to active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran's cervical spine, shoulder, hip, knee, and radicular conditions are related to her in-service injury. The Board finds the VA examiners' opinions inadequate as they did not consider the relevant STRs or lay evidence of record.,The Veteran contends that her current musculoskeletal pain and symptoms began in service and are also related to her service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including frostbite residuals, fatigue, skin disorders, ankle and shin splints, respiratory disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or in-service injuries that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's left shoulder strain is rated at 30 percent, but the Board denied higher ratings and TDIU for both periods of appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for a temporary total evaluation following surgeries and an extension of such evaluations due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the withholding of VA compensation benefits to recoup Separation Pay in the amount of $31,101.34 was proper and this appeal must be denied as a matter of law.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, and left shoulder disabilities, as well as bilateral hip replacement. The Veteran's right upper extremity and lower extremity radiculopathies are also found to be related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that his current disabilities were related to service.,Service treatment records did not show any symptoms or diagnoses of these conditions during active duty. Post-service medical records indicated the disabilities began in 2017, more than 30 years after separation from service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine/neck disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy (including as secondary to the now service-connected cervical spine disability), headaches disability (including as secondary to the now service-connected cervical spine disability), left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, and left knee disability.

The Veteran's left and right shoulder conditions, as well as his DDD of the lumbar spine and degenerative arthritis of the right knee, are all granted service connection based on their relationship to his service-connected right paravertebral muscles myositis, trapezius and rhomboid.

The Veteran's arthritis of the bilateral feet, low back pain, right knee pain, osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, and bilateral hearing loss were all granted service connection as they are considered direct service-connected disabilities.,Service connection was established for these conditions based on their onset during periods of active duty.

The Board has dismissed all appeals related to the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his right shoulder bursitis, left shoulder bursitis, and right ring finger fracture.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was dismissed. The Veteran is granted TDIU effective October 23, 2018, but no earlier.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn all remaining issues.

The Veteran's asthma has been granted service connection under the PACT Act. The remaining issues have been remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of left shoulder and left ankle disabilities due to outstanding STRs and incomplete medical records. Additional addendum opinions are needed to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected orthopedic conditions have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education, skills, training, and work history.