Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that he was not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 23, 2004.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from December 9, 2015 to April 9, 2023 due to service-connected disabilities. The claim for TDIU prior to December 9, 2015 is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a cyst/benign growth of shoulder and toenail fungus have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal before the Board.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds additional evidence supports a higher rating.,Both knees are currently rated at 30 percent. The Veteran's right knee has been found to have limitation of flexion to 15 degrees or less on flare-ups, warranting a higher 30 percent rating.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds additional evidence supports a higher 40 percent rating for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and right shoulder impingement syndrome and bicipital tendon tear have been denied as there is no evidence of a claim prior to the effective dates assigned.,The Veteran's GERD has been granted service connection secondary to medications used to treat his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder but remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient etiology opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder but remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient etiology opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as due to a personal assault during service.,Right shoulder DJD and dislocation are granted, with continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, back, right shoulder, and right leg disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck condition, right shoulder condition, and skin condition were denied. The claim for hiatal hernia was also denied.,New evidence received since the last denial has reopened the claims for neck condition and right shoulder condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, particularly headaches and left shoulder disability. The Veteran is presumed sound at entry into service, so any preexisting conditions must be shown to have been aggravated by service or not clearly and unmistakably exist prior to service.

The claim for service connection for sarcoidosis of the right lower lip is dismissed. The claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition, back condition, and left knee condition are remanded.

Service connection granted for a right knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, and atrial fibrillation. The right knee disorder is secondary to the service-connected left knee strain. The left shoulder disorder was incurred during active duty service. Atrial fibrillation is either directly related to service or due to pre-existing stomach ulcers.,Service connection granted for a left shoulder disorder. The condition began in service and has persisted since then.,Service connection granted for atrial fibrillation. The condition originated during service, possibly due to the Veteran's perforated duodenal stomach ulcer surgery.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder injury, left hip injury, right hamstring muscle injury, left ankle sprain, neck disorder with headaches, back pain disorder, and chest pain disorder. The VA will provide additional examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for right and left shoulder disabilities due to incomplete records and an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right and left shoulder, knee, ulna/radius fracture, wrist compound fracture, lumbar compression fracture with degenerative disc disease, and PTSD. The issues include determining service connection for these conditions and assigning appropriate disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left shoulder condition is secondary to his service-connected right shoulder condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for TBI with cognitive and sleep disorder is dismissed.,The claim for an effective date prior to June 26, 2017, for a separate evaluation for headaches, status post TBI is dismissed.,The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,The claims for effective dates prior to October 5, 2006, for the grant of service connection for breathing disability with shortness of breath and PTSD are denied.,The claims for ratings in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities are dismissed as they were not factually ascertainable within a year prior to June 26, 2017.,The claim for TDIU is dismissed as the Veteran's combined disability rating from June 26, 2017, already meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right shoulder/arm disability, lumbar spine disability, and headaches due to inadequate medical opinions in the January 2021 VA examination report. The Veteran's statements regarding chronic symptoms since service discharge are found not credible.