Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that additional examinations are necessary for the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, hypertension, left knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss claims due to incomplete or inadequate previous examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to his active-duty service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of fractured left clavicle with left shoulder strain and total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) due to incomplete development.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral eye condition, neck disability, renal/urinary condition, peptic ulcer, right shoulder condition, headaches, right middle finger injury/deformity, short extremity/right leg condition, vertigo, and sinus problems. The evidence does not establish a current disability or show an increase in severity of any pre-existing conditions noted upon entry into service.,The Veteran's claims for these conditions are denied as the medical evidence does not support the presence of diagnosed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate VA examination and further development is required.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral shoulder, right hip, left hip, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to a withdrawal by the Veteran's representative in June 2021.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to new evidence being submitted after the initial rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and a left shoulder disability due to herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing service in Vietnam or herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 29, 2015 for the right knee disability rating. The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection on various issues have been remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability had its onset in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left shoulder, right hip, and left knee disorders were not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The disorders are not secondary to the service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, hypertension, and TDIU due to potential exposure to herbicide agents and lead paint during service. Additional development is needed to verify these exposures.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent on and after October 23, 2019, for scar, surgical, left shoulder is dismissed. A 10 percent rating, and no higher, is granted for the same condition prior to October 23, 2019. The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left shoulder rotator cuff tear with left triceps muscle injury is remanded due to worsening symptoms since the last VA examination. Service connection for headaches is also remanded as there are insufficient records to determine if they had their onset in service or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has decided that service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted, but the right shoulder disability issue remains pending and requires further review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for further development of his shoulder disabilities, including a potential right shoulder surgery in July 2014. The TDIU claim also requires additional information from the Veteran.

The Board has determined that additional evidence has been added to the record since the last review by the AOJ. The claims for service connection are being remanded for further consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that there was no ascertainable increase in disability during the one-year period prior to her December 13, 2017, filing.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of thoracic vertebra compression fracture residuals and right shoulder post-traumatic arthritis were denied as the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to February 16, 2022, and 40 percent from that date.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of June 13, 2014, for the 60 percent rating assigned for coronary artery disease is granted. The effective date was based on a new claim filed by the Veteran shortly after his diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.