Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms of shoulder strain and impingement syndrome began during service and are related to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case for further proceedings, including obtaining a medical opinion and considering an extraschedular rating for the Veteran's left shoulder disability. The issues of entitlement to a higher rating and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for arthritis of the whole body, other than the back, neck, knees, and right shoulder. Service connection is granted for arthritis of the right shoulder due to in-service parachute jumping activities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder condition and right knee condition, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions were caused by his active service.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for total left knee replacement, effective from December 9, 2019 to February 29, 2020. The claims of service connection for left shoulder disability and right shoulder disability have been reopened, but the claim for low back compression fracture at T11, T12, and L1 is granted as secondary to service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disorders. The VA will conduct further examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to inadequate opinions in the February 2017 VA examination reports. The claims will be reviewed again with new examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, right shoulder rotator cuff tear with degenerative joint disease, left shoulder rotator cuff tear with degenerative joint disease, sciatica of the left lower extremity, and sciatica of the right lower extremity. The conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during service and has continued since then. Service connection for this condition is granted.,VA examination did not find hearing loss in either ear at the time of the January 2017 VA examination, but the Veteran reported worsening symptoms since that time. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded for a new VA examination to determine if current hearing loss disability exists and its etiology.,The Veteran's lumbar spine condition, bilateral knee conditions (left and right), left hand condition, and left shoulder condition are all remanded as the January 2017 VA examiner did not provide opinions regarding their direct relationship to service. A new VA examination is required for these claims.,The Veteran's left ankle condition and right ankle condition are both remanded as a new VA examination is needed to determine if current bilateral ankle conditions exist and their etiology.,The Veteran's balance impairment is also remanded as no opinion has been provided regarding its relationship to service. A new VA examination is required for this claim.

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

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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left shoulder conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, left shoulder joint separation, and knee chondromalacia have all been rated as per the current criteria without meeting the requirements for higher ratings.,Higher ratings are not warranted due to lack of evidence showing respiratory failure or tracheostomy required for a 100% rating for sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his left ankle injury, bilateral hearing loss, high blood pressure, acquired psychiatric disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of a left shoulder disability and concludes that there is no causal relationship between any diagnosed condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the appellant's exposure to herbicide agents, asbestos, or PCBs during service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities are inextricably intertwined with the issue of exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further development is required.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, left shoulder disability, and lung disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis and right shoulder arthritis due to additional development being required.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and denied increased ratings for the Veteran's knees. The decision also remanded issues regarding secondary service connection for knee disabilities.