Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's right shoulder strain is currently rated at 20 percent, which approximates the criteria for limitation of motion to midway between side and shoulder. The left foot plantar fasciitis does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection has been granted for right ankle debridement and Haglund's excision with right Achilles tendinitis and ankle joint pain, but service connection for bronchitis is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including dizziness and vertigo, anxiety, migraines, stiff neck pain, and shoulder pain, as secondary to service-connected temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD).

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's complaints in his service treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for neck, low back, right shoulder, left shoulder, and left knee disabilities. The left ankle disability is also granted as arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, kidney disability, skin condition, right hand tremors, left hand disability, right knee condition, left knee condition, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, lower bilateral gout, and sleep apnea are not related to service. As a result, the claims for these conditions have been denied.

Service connection is granted for psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression.,Service connection is granted for right shoulder impingement syndrome due to aggravation during service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for COPD as it had already been granted. The Veteran was granted entitlement to TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left elbow, hip, shoulder, lumbar spine, bilateral hand, right hip, and right shoulder conditions, all of which are deemed to be direct service-connected rather than presumptively related due to Gulf War exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder strain was dismissed as the appeal was granted in full.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for their shoulder condition, right, has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew the appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated at 40 percent throughout the period on appeal, reflecting severe flare-ups with decreased functionality and pain.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disability, which occurred after service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete information.

The Board has found that the Veteran's neck and right shoulder disabilities are related to service, but additional evidence is needed for a final determination.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date and higher initial rating for right ear hearing loss is dismissed as the claim has been severed due to clear and unmistakable error.,The Veteran's request to reopen his finally disallowed claim of entitlement to service connection for a right foot injury is granted. The evidence received since the last final denial supports this claim.,Service connection for a left foot condition is denied because there is no current evidence of such a condition or any treatment sought by the Veteran.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder impingement is granted, with the persuasive weight of the evidence being in equipoise as to whether it manifested within one year of separation from service.,Service connection for post traumatic headaches with blurry vision is granted at a 30 percent rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical evidence and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for a left shoulder condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to September 30, 2020, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied. Service connection for hypertension (HTN) is granted and the appeal is remanded for further examination to determine if service connection should be granted for bilateral foot, knee, neck, or right shoulder disorders.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for a right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability due to incomplete examination reports and lack of consideration of credible lay evidence.