Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to inadequate etiology opinions and outstanding records. The issues include right shoulder, left shoulder, left knee, tinnitus, left foot, right ankle, and asthma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder condition, diagnosed as rotator cuff tendonitis, is related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right shoulder strain, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeal for a recurrent gastrointestinal disability to include GERD, diverticulitis, colon polyps, and an undiagnosed illness claimed as the result of exposure to burn pits in Southwest Asia is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information. The Veteran's left shoulder disability claim is still under review.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability was denied. The Board has remanded the case to allow further development and consideration of the issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his right wrist, bilateral shoulder, and OSA disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development including examinations and verification of toxic exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, other than strain, is proximately due to his service-connected knee disabilities and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be due to herbicide agent exposure. Service connection for other conditions, including lumbar and cervical spine disorders, right shoulder and left shoulder disorders, bilateral arm and elbow condition, left hand disorder, right foot arthritis, left foot disorder, right toe disorder (except the right great toe), and left toe disorder are granted based on presumptive service connection under the PACT Act. Service connection for other conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, including VA examinations for his acquired psychiatric disorder, neck disability, low back disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, sleep apnea, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss (for VA purposes).

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a respiratory disability, heart disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and right knee disability due to potential development needs.,Service connection is not currently established for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and neurological disability of the right upper extremity have been denied. The Veteran's claim for headaches has also been denied.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability and a left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities, all of which are directly related to in-service parachute accidents.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy, and diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral CTS, right and left shoulder disabilities, and right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence or conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left elbow, left shoulder, neck, right wrist, right elbow, and right shoulder disabilities. The claims are being returned to the RO for additional medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to his service-connected left wrist disability.

The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Prior to August [REDACTED], 2016, the Board denied nonservice-connected pension benefits due to the Veteran's employment and net worth.,From August [REDACTED], 2016 to February 29, 2020, the Board granted nonservice-connected pension benefits as the Veteran met all criteria for basic entitlement.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder and remanded the gastrointestinal/gastroesophageal disorders claim.