Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection of right shoulder, left knee, and infertility disabilities due to new evidence submitted. The cases are remanded for further development.

Service connection for prostate cancer is granted under the PACT Act of 2022.,Service connection for PTSD and persistent depressive disorder is granted. The Board found that these conditions are related to service, including in-service stressors.

Service connection for a left knee disorder is granted.,The issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the May 2002 rating decision that denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 21, 2017, for the award of service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome with degenerative arthritis is also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and right shoulder disability due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition, but his right shoulder disability may be related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been incurred during active duty.,VA examinations were not provided for the Veteran's hip, low back, and knee disabilities. The Veteran also needs a VA examination for his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD, right and left shoulder radiculopathy was dismissed as the Veteran opted into the modernized appeals process under the AMA.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the knees and shoulder, neuropathy of the lower extremities, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. The issues of PTSD, depression, a sleep disorder, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The right shoulder condition claim is reopened, but the Board finds a remand necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and colon polyps are granted. The claim for service connection for colon polyps is based on new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board found no evidence to support a claim that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder was caused by a fall while receiving treatment at the VA Medical Center of Beckley, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. The Board has ordered remand on several issues, including the rating for hearing loss and service connection for various disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left ankle is granted. The claims for a left knee disability and a left shoulder disability are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current level of severity of the Veteran's left shoulder disability. The appeal will be reconsidered after obtaining updated medical records and conducting the requested examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete development. The Veteran needs to provide any outstanding treatment records, and a VA examiner will be requested to determine if the current ankle and shoulder disorders are related to service.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder, right elbow, and right knee disabilities. The claims are being remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral ankle disability, and left shoulder disability due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary for the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and left wrist disability. The Veteran's current complaints and treatment records are insufficient to resolve these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of some issues which were remanded. The new and material evidence has reopened several petitions to reopen previous denied claims.