Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder arthritis. The decision on the left ankle/heel disorder is remanded due to incomplete records and inadequate opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided were inadequate, as they did not consider the Veteran's lay statements about his in-service injuries. The claims for service connection are therefore being remanded to allow for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and a lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between these disabilities and service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under current VA regulations.,The Veteran's left knee instability is currently rated at 20 percent and no higher. The examiner found that there was no evidence of ankylosis or severe recurrent subluxation/lateral instability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim from January 14, 2011, to February 22, 2018, is granted based on his service-connected right knee disability, right shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, finding that the fall in May 2008 aggravated his pre-existing left shoulder condition.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, adjustment disorder with anxiety, and alcohol use disorder.,Service connection was also granted for a low back disability (DJD) and left arm disabilities (AC joint DJD, shoulder tendonitis, C5 radiculopathy, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome).,Right carpal tunnel syndrome was also granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder strain, finding that the Veteran's current disability is less severe due to his service-connected left shoulder disability. Service connection for a cervical strain was denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or causation from the service-connected left shoulder condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence added to the claims file, including VA outpatient records. The issues of service connection for teeth issues, shoulder condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, right foot (pes planus), limitation of flexion right knee/leg, gout (claimed as painful joints), generalized body aches, skin disability, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), recurrent allergies, sleep apnea, bilateral hand disability, sinus disability, and asthma are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including back, neck, knee, shoulder, and esophageal conditions, have been granted. The issues of service connection for a left knee meniscal tear, right hand disability, left hand disability, fatigue (undiagnosed illness), and memory loss (undiagnosed illness) are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151 for injuries to his right hand and left shoulder resulting from VA treatment in November 2010 has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran's attorney.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions are inadequate for several reasons, including inconsistency in findings and reliance on absence of treatment or diagnosis in service. The Veteran's statements regarding a potential injury to his right shoulder during service have been considered. Therefore, the claims for service connection for right shoulder disability and bilateral hand disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claim for an initial compensable rating for the right knee scar is denied. The claims for service connection for a left eye condition, heart condition, GERD, gastrointestinal condition, right shoulder disability, and lumbar spine disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome has been denied, as his reports are linked to sleep apnea and a service-connected psychiatric disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been granted.,The Veteran's neck disability (cervical spondylosis with myelopathy) is considered service connected.,The Veteran's radiculopathies of the upper extremities are also considered service connected.,New and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, which is granted in part.,Other claims remain pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU beginning February 27, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities.,The issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to February 27, 2018 is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's psoriasis, right shoulder osteoarthritis, and sinusitis are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition (excluding osteoarthritis), to include tendinopathy and superior labral fraying, is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's low back condition is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the claim for service connection for a stomach condition, as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran is not currently diagnosed with either condition.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU and DEA effective August 29, 2014 due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found the Veteran unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since that date.