Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, carpal tunnel syndrome in the right upper extremity, and carpal tunnel syndrome in the left upper extremity due to inadequate opinions from Dr. C.K.A.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to failure of the Veteran to report for VA examinations and lack of compliance with remand directives. The issues include right ankle, left ankle, migraine headaches, and right shoulder disabilities.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for headaches, but the Veteran's service connection claims for other conditions are remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions and failure to consider the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board has determined that the January 2019 VA examinations are inadequate and remanded for further clarification of the Veteran's current disabilities. The claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, dermatophytosis of the right foot, and headache condition are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to open medical questions and need for new VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disorders due to incomplete medical opinions and need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck disability, head injury residuals, headaches, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability due to incomplete VA treatment records from 1999-2000 and insufficient information on income, net worth, and medical expenses.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations related to her bilateral foot disability, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right shoulder impingement, and cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity due to incomplete or inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The appeal with respect to the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is dismissed.,Entitlement to service connection for a lung disability is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for chronic open angle glaucoma and nuclear sclerotic cataracts is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral elbow disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral wrist disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hip disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a spine disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for hypertension due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a heart disability due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for RBD is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to ambiguities in the medical opinions and a need for further examination. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim is being reviewed, including whether it is secondary to his service-connected disabilities (PTSD, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, residuals of left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left knee instability associated with residuals of left knee patellofemoral syndrome).

The Board has jurisdiction over the Veteran's Legacy appeal and finds that a SOC must be issued for the issues of service connection for various conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and chronic right shoulder pain due to new evidence being added to the file. The Veteran's service connection claim for right shoulder pain is also remanded as there are insufficient opinions in the record regarding its relationship to sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or service-connected conditions.,Service records do not show any complaints or diagnoses related to these disabilities during active duty. The Veteran's current diagnoses are attributed to post-service events.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, bilateral shin splints, right knee and left knee disabilities, right hip disability, right shoulder disability, heart disorder (claimed as a heart murmur), and gastrointestinal disorder.,The Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations scheduled in 2022 and 2023 was noted. The Board found that the Veteran failed without good cause to comply with the remand instructions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that he is not unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for disabilities of the left shoulder, right elbow, and left elbow. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection and rating claims, including voiding dysfunction, allergic rhinitis, external hemorrhoids, nephrolithiasis, thoracolumbar spine disability, left hamstring disability, right hamstring disability, right shoulder disability, sinusitis, left lower extremity sciatica, and right lower extremity sciatica. The appeals were dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for ear disorder (dizziness, vertigo), bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to incomplete compliance with previous remands.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral shoulder and wrist disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities.