Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his military personnel records. The Board will consider all submitted evidence, including lay statements from the Veteran, in determining whether service connection is warranted for the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities. For his heart condition, a noncompensable rating is granted prior to November 9, 2021, and a 10 percent rating is granted from that date.

The Board has granted service connection for gout of the left shoulder, bilateral hands and fingers, bilateral elbows, and bilateral feet and toes. The evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions had their onset during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records. The Board also found that a new examination is needed in several cases.

The Veteran's PTSD, lumbar spondylosis, patellofemoral pain syndrome right knee, left shoulder pain, and right hand fracture reconstruction are all being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for new examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left shoulder impingement and left knee injury with degenerative arthritis were denied as a matter of law due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to April 18, 2017, for increased disability ratings of his back, left shoulder, right shoulder, left hip, and right hip disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is for service connection and a higher rating for his right knee and shoulder disabilities. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right lower extremity knee and sciatic nerve radiculopathy, together with organic diseases such as coronary artery disease, sinusitis, and hypertension, result in the loss of use of one lower extremity and affect balance and propulsion. The Board grants entitlement to specially adapted housing but dismisses the claim for a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and right shoulder strain, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service. The decision also notes that the Veteran's statements regarding the onset of his headache disability during service are credible.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

Service connection is granted for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a right shoulder disability.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) related to military sexual trauma has been remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder strain, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to incomplete records and lack of service treatment records.

The Board has found that the VA examinations and opinions provided were inadequate, particularly in addressing the Veteran's contentions regarding his claimed disabilities being related to his service-connected scar. The case is therefore remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the condition.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating for right knee instability from January 25, 2015 to June 29, 2021 is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and right shoulder degenerative joint disease have been reopened, and both conditions are now granted.,Service connection has also been granted for headaches with very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and right shoulder disabilities. Service connection was denied for a left shoulder disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disorder (patellofemoral pain syndrome) and right shoulder disorder (shoulder impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tendonitis).

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his claims related to lumbosacral strain, left shoulder strain, and a urinary condition. His chondromalacia of the left knee remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder disability, but remanded the issue of left shoulder disability due to insufficient medical evidence.