Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder pain and right knee condition, but granted a separate rating for femoral neuropathy related to the Veteran's inguinal hernia repair. The claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a right inguinal hernia repair is pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder, finding no evidence of a chronic condition in service and no competent medical evidence linking his current left shoulder strain to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn. The remaining issues, including those related to the left hand and right knee disabilities, are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right foot/ankle disability and bilateral shoulder disabilities are being remanded for further development. The OSA claim is also being remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for the right foot/ankle disability, OSA, and bilateral shoulder disabilities will be reconsidered based on additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is granted based on the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure. The claims for chloracne, bilateral hearing loss disability, and disabilities of both shoulders are remanded as new evidence has been received but does not meet the materiality requirement to reopen.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions and evidence of record.

The Board has granted a claim to revise the November 2016 rating decision that failed to award a minimum 20 percent rating for a left shoulder disability, finding clear and unmistakable error in not applying the correct law regarding painful motion of the joint.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a lumbar spine disorder, and a right shoulder disorder due to incomplete development following previous remands.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, left ankle strain/instability, and left shoulder tendinosis. The case is remanded for further development regarding the left ankle strain/instability issue.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his lumbar spine condition.,For PTSD, the Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher than 30 percent rating during the appeal period.,For left shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis, the VA examiner noted no limitation to 25 degrees from side and concluded that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied. The claim for TDIU is granted. The claims for bilateral shoulder disorder and the issue of character of service are remanded.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to insufficient evidence for the claims of service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's statements and lay statements will need to be considered in addition to VA examination findings.

The Veteran's cervicogenic headaches are caused by her service-connected cervical spine disability.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine strain is related to a period of active air service.,The Veteran's left shoulder strain is related to a period of active air service.,The Veteran's chest pain, secondary to service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, is caused by her service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of CAD or any other claimed conditions during the appeal period.,For each condition, the VA examiner provided an opinion that the Veteran's symptoms were not causally related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently assigned a noncompensable evaluation.,Service connection for the right knee disorder, left arm disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder are all denied.,Service connection for diabetes, back disorder, shoulder disorder, TBI (head injury) with memory loss, neck disorder, hypertension (high blood pressure), cerebral vascular accident (CVA, strokes), headaches, and PTSD is also denied.,The Veteran's vision loss was not found to be related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, finding that his current diagnosis of a right shoulder rotator cuff strain is related to an injury he sustained during active duty. The Board also found that there was no evidence of pre-existing condition or aggravation.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 9, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for Gulf War Syndrome, bilateral shoulder disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hip disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is also being asked to provide a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for low back pain, left shoulder pain, and tinnitus have been granted. The issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding it at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder. The claims for degenerative arthritis of the shoulders and cervical spine DDD are remanded due to lack of a VA examination. The claim for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is inextricably intertwined with the cervical spine disability.