Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, a left shoulder disability, and a higher rating for lumbar strain.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for electrocution scar residual, left upper back was denied as the evidence did not show any active symptoms.,The Veteran's claims for service connection of right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss were both denied due to lack of current diagnosis or causal connection to service.,The Veteran's claim for memory loss was denied as there is no currently diagnosed condition that meets VA criteria.,The Veteran's claims for electrocution residuals, including left arm, foot, right foot, and shoulder conditions, were all denied as the evidence did not show any current diagnoses or causal connection to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during active service.,The Veteran does not currently have a left ear hearing loss disability for VA benefits purposes.,A left knee disability was not manifest during active service and is not otherwise related to service.,A right shoulder disability was not manifest during active service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board has ordered additional examinations and opinions to address the etiology of the Veteran's neck, shoulder, hip, and sciatica disorders, specifically related to his testimony about wearing an incorrectly sized Kevlar vest during deployment.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome, complete rotator cuff tear, glenohumeral arthritis, and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis. The Board also granted service connection for right knee disorder including right meniscus and ACL tear, instability, osteoarthritis, and chondromalacia.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA). The VA examinations did not find any nexus between the Veteran's current shoulder disabilities and his service-connected low back disability.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,The Veteran's current low back condition, neck condition, right shoulder condition, and gastrointestinal disorder are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background, thus denying the claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for service connection as they are not diagnosed disabilities.,The Veteran's right knee condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition is granted a 30 percent rating.,The Veteran's left knee condition is granted a 60 percent rating prior to April 20, 2023. A higher rating of in excess of 60 percent from that date is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for atelectasis, left shoulder impingement syndrome, and right shoulder condition due to incomplete examinations and lack of adequate rationale. The Veteran is a Persian Gulf War Veteran with presumptive exposure to burn pits.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, and respiratory disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sinusitis, left shoulder disability, and lower back disability have been granted. The evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of left and right shoulder osteoarthritis, as well as right and left restless leg syndrome, were denied. The evidence did not show that the Veteran's conditions warranted a higher rating.,The VA examinations provided sufficient information to determine that the Veteran’s range of motion was limited to 45 degrees from the side, which does not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's right hip disorder, genitourinary disorder other than erectile dysfunction (epididymo-orchitis), nasal disorder, and several musculoskeletal conditions are remanded for further development.,Service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions is being remanded due to insufficient evidence linking them to service exposure or service-connected disabilities. Further examination and opinion may be necessary under recent changes in law related to toxic exposure claims.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck disorder, finding it at least as likely as not related to his already service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board has already denied the claims for increased ratings in a previous decision, and thus these appeals are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for compensation purposes for the claimed right Muscle Group VII injury residuals, right Muscle Group VIII injury residuals, right median nerve entrapment, medial nerve release residuals and carpal tunnel syndrome, post operative right median nerve entrapment release scar residuals, and right shoulder tendinitis.

The Board has determined that additional evidence must be considered before a final decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his reported in-service injury.