Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for various disabilities and an increased rating for WPWS was dismissed due to untimely filing of the VA Form 10182.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis is granted service connection.,Service connection for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the cervical spine arthritis is granted.,Service connection for left and right ankle strain, right shoulder strain, and left and right hip strain are all granted.,The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis is granted service connection.,Service connection for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the cervical spine arthritis is granted.,Service connection for left and right ankle strain, right shoulder strain, and left and right hip strain are all granted.,The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis is granted service connection.,Service connection for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the cervical spine arthritis is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection, with the tinnitus finding based on in-service noise exposure. The left shoulder disability has also been granted a 30 percent evaluation.,No specific evidence of exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, or Gulf War was provided.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at a 40 percent rating, and the claim for TDIU is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including failing to obtain VA and private medical records related to the Veteran's right shoulder condition. The claim will be reconsidered with these records.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is being remanded for further review due to a pre-existing condition aggravation during active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his service-connected dry eye syndrome is granted, with a 20 percent evaluation. The claims for bilateral pinguecula of the eyes and hypertension are denied. Service connection for PTSD, alopecia or thinning hair secondary to PTSD, ED secondary to PTSD or hypertension, dry mouth syndrome secondary to OSA, GERD, and recurring body rash are all denied.

The Board has decided that the appellant's right ankle disability did not begin in, was not diagnosed during, nor is otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury. The left shoulder disability issue requires further examination and review.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection, with the tinnitus finding based on in-service noise exposure. The left shoulder disability has also been granted a 30 percent evaluation.,No specific evidence of exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, or Gulf War was provided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and a right shoulder condition due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to obtain VA examinations. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for right shoulder disability, as there is insufficient evidence to decide the claim without a proper medical examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeals for reductions in the evaluations of his left wrist and shoulder disabilities, as well as PTSD, are granted. The evaluations have been restored.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims have been remanded due to the need for further examination or evidence in several cases. The left knee strain claim remains denied, as does all other individual conditions except for those related to service connection.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral tinnitus, left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition have been granted. The rating for the feet condition is being remanded, as are the claims for erectile dysfunction, MDD, GAD, learning disability disorder with reading impairment, and insomnia.

The Board denied service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Left Knee Disorder, Left Shoulder Disorder, Right Shoulder Disorder, and Hypertension as there is no credible evidence of a current disability or link to active duty service.,There was insufficient medical evidence to support the Veteran's claims regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to July 26, 2018 is being remanded due to insufficient evidence meeting the criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) and because there is reasonable possibility that he was unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot because he is already receiving a 100% schedular evaluation for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder condition, finding that it is attributable to his military service and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease, L5-S1, but denied service connection for right rotator cuff tendinopathy.,The Veteran's lower back condition is considered presumptively related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected left shoulder dislocation with osteoarthritis status post repair of RTC tears was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for his left shoulder disability was also denied.