Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, left frozen shoulder, and hypertension. The claim for PTSD was also denied due to lack of a diagnosed condition in accordance with VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The claims are being returned for further development including obtaining medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with TBI and lumbar strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU effective June 5, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his GERD, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, status-post medial meniscectomy, right knee, and scars, right knee.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence and the PACT Act, which requires VA to provide TERA examinations for toxic exposure-related conditions.

The Veteran's claims for bruxism (grinding of teeth) and temporomandibular joint disorder have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder, has not resulted in a compensable rating due to insufficient evidence of current disability.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability and bilateral shoulder disability is dismissed.,The appeals of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disability and bilateral hand disability, secondary to the right wrist disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided were inadequate and remands are necessary for further evaluations of the Veteran's lumbar spine, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disorders.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and left knee strain. The right shoulder disorder claim is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right knee, shoulder, and hip disabilities due to the need for additional examinations to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's cervical strain is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of ankylosis or intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).,Right sided otalgia does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation as there is no evidence of chronic suppurative otitis media, mastoiditis, cholesteatoma, or aural polyps.,Migraine headaches do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under DC 8100.,Squamous cell carcinoma with lymphedema in remission does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation as it is not comparable to systemic malignancies.,Neck neuralgia does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation as it has not manifested as moderate incomplete paralysis.,Loss of sense of smell and taste do not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation as they are only partial loss without evidence of complete loss.,TDIU is denied due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of a dislocated right shoulder, finding that there is credible lay and medical evidence supporting the Veteran's claim that her current right shoulder disability is linked to service. The decision also acknowledges missing service treatment records but finds that this does not affect the outcome.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to a lack of pre-1998 VA treatment records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left shoulder disability, thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and other conditions, are found to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as a truck driver. As such, the Board has granted his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, serous otitis media, and several other conditions were denied. The appeals for increased ratings for hearing loss and scars, as well as the effective date claims for serous otitis media and scars were also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations. The appeals will be reconsidered after obtaining missing service personnel records, post-service treatment records, and arranging for new VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the issue of service connection for chronic bronchitis due to presumed in-service exposure to burn pits. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, as well as service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities and a left shoulder disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for chronic tympanitis, increased ratings for left hip strain and right hip strain, and an increased rating for right shoulder strain with tendonitis due to the appellant's request to withdraw his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's reports regarding his right shoulder symptoms following service. The claim will be reconsidered on a direct basis, assuming he was sound upon entry to service.