Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of a back disability due to deficiencies in VA examinations. The Veteran's complaints of numbness are also being considered as they may raise a claim for cervical spine condition with left arm radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for rhinosinusitis and chronic allergic conjunctivitis have been denied as there is no evidence of current conditions or a link to service.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, left shoulder rotator cuff injury, and migraine headaches are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and sleep apnea were denied. The claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for the lumbosacral strain prior to November 19, 2015 was denied, but he is now granted a 40 percent rating from that date onward.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability and bilateral shoulder disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims of increased rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability and entitlement to service connection for a separate condition are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia, hemorrhoids, bilateral varicose veins, right index finger injury, left ring finger injury, anxiety disorder, PTSD, lower back disability, bilateral hip disability, right ankle disability, and right shoulder and clavicular fracture are all remanded for further examination and evaluation.,Service connection is also being remanded for the Veteran's anxiety disorder, PTSD, lower back disability, bilateral hip disability, right ankle disability, right shoulder and clavicular fracture, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance, leading to a grant of SMC at the A&A rate effective August 17, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and impingement syndrome with a partial rotator cuff tear of the left shoulder based on credible evidence of in-service injury.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his left shoulder disability and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his left shoulder disability, and he did not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee, cervical spine, hypertension, left elbow, headache, and right shoulder disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete factual premises in previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder scar and TDIU before August 9, 2017 due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot disability, increased ratings for lumbar spine and left shoulder disabilities due to inconsistencies in medical opinions and lack of consideration of functional impairment.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the issues on appeal, including obtaining VA and non-VA medical records related to the Veteran's shoulder conditions and service-connected left knee disability. The claims will be remanded for addendum opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's shoulder conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions due to new evidence submitted after the May 24, 2019 Statement of the Case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU need to be remanded due to inadequate opinions and examination reports. The issues include a secondary claim for left shoulder disability, an increased rating for left hip disability, and a TDIU issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, headaches, sinusitis, low back disability, skeletal arthritis, shoulder disabilities, and a respiratory disorder are denied.,There is no evidence linking these conditions to military service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, left hip, cervical spine, and right shoulder disabilities due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. The RO is required to obtain updated VA treatment records from April 2017 to present, all medical records located in VA's VISTA imaging system, and any private treatment records relevant to the claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to the evidence showing a current disability and in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for neck pain/pinch, low back pain, left shoulder condition, and left knee condition are denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of a skin disability. The heart, bilateral hearing loss, left leg, and left ankle disabilities are all remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded several cases related to the Veteran's disability ratings and effective dates for various conditions, including left ankle fracture with left calf atrophy, right shoulder strain, and posttraumatic headaches.