Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, HPV, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to inadequate or insufficient opinions in the VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to schedule new VA examinations and obtain additional medical opinions as needed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to determine appropriate ratings and service connection for his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings due to procedural errors and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of his left shoulder, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and lower back conditions due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any related disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder condition and his request for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his left shoulder condition, and the severity of his degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, do not meet the threshold for a schedular TDIU prior to February 3, 2021. The Board finds no reasonable possibility of unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases of a right shoulder disability and a left hip disability for further development to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding their onset during service.

All appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been withdrawn by the Veteran.,Service connection for prostate cancer has been granted due to exposure to chemicals in Iraq.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, bilateral foot disability (other than a skin disability), and obstructive sleep apnea due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.,Specifically, the Board found that there was no credible evidence showing onset or aggravation during service or within one year post-service. The VA examiners also determined that current right shoulder and bilateral foot disabilities were not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a bilateral shoulder condition due to the need for an examination and missing medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and other conditions such as right shoulder, bilateral pes planus, positional vertigo, tinnitus, right elbow, right knee, hiatal hernia, have rendered him unemployable. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and left shoulder disabilities due to inadequate examinations, missing records from Moncrief Army Community Hospital, and failure to consider all relevant evidence. The claims will be reviewed with new VA examinations.

The Board has found that the previous medical opinions were not substantially compliant with the remand directives and requires another remand to obtain a new opinion regarding the Veteran's left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for further evaluation and clarification of certain issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected adhesive capsulitis of the right and left shoulders are being remanded due to incomplete examination results.

The Veteran's hip disabilities, including right and left hip bursitis, were granted service connection from July 13, 2006. The effective date for the grant of service connection for right and left hip disabilities is set at July 13, 2006.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Board found that withholding VA compensation benefits to recoup separation pay in the amount of $13,958.15 was proper and denied the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder condition claimed as pain is denied due to lack of evidence showing the condition was incurred in or aggravated by military service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gallbladder disorder claimed as chronic abdominal pain is remanded for further development, including obtaining an opinion on its etiology.