Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The decision concludes that the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for vertigo and right shoulder pain due to insufficient notice in the April 2021 rating decision.

The Veteran's left shoulder degenerative joint disease is rated at a 30 percent rating, effective February 23, 2021.,A separate 20 percent rating for recurrent dislocation of the left humerus at the scapulohumeral joint is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder condition, lower (lumbar spine) back pain/condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of hypertension, right inguinal hernia and residuals, lower (lumbar spine) back pain/condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition do not have a direct relationship to his active service.

The Board denied initial compensable disability ratings for scars on the Veteran's left and right shoulders, finding that the evidence did not support a rating based on the criteria in the Rating Schedule.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions in her prior claim. The claims are being returned for further development and consideration.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left hip, right knee (secondary to lower back condition), left knee, left shoulder, right hip, and right shoulder conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran withdrew all claims for service connection, including those related to cervical condition (neck), left shoulder degenerative arthritis with rotator cuff tendonitis, and peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity. The Board dismissed these issues as a result of the withdrawal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The claims for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, low back condition, and left shoulder condition are remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD, initial rating for right shoulder disability, and rating for left shoulder scar from November 24, 2020 to February 5, 2021. The Veteran's claim for PTSD is reopened due to new evidence received after a prior denial.

Service connection for a gallbladder condition is granted.,Service connection for a right shoulder strain is denied. The claim is being remanded to determine the cause of the cervical strain.

The Veteran's GERD is granted as secondary to NSAIDs used for his service-connected lumbar degenerative arthritis status post discectomy and bilateral shoulder strain.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left wrist and shoulder disabilities, as well as an increased rating for a right wrist disability due to incomplete medical opinions and lack of consideration of all evidence.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at an initial 30 percent, effective from the date of the decision. Service connection for onychomycosis and a current bilateral foot disability other than onychomycosis are denied.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for scar, status post right shoulder surgery and a rating greater than 10 percent for painful scar, status post right shoulder surgery were denied as the evidence did not support these ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability is dismissed as the issue was part of an earlier legacy appeal.,The Veteran's appeal for SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound is dismissed because it has already been granted for the current appeal period.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his bilateral foot disability is denied as he is already in receipt of the maximum schedular rating.,The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to September 7, 2022 for the grant of a 70 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence showing worsening during the year prior to his claim.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no basis for an earlier effective date.

The petition to readjudicate the claim for service connection for back strain (claimed as lower and upper back condition) is granted.,The petition to readjudicate the claim for service connection for left ankle strain remains denied because the evidence submitted is not new and relevant.,The petition to readjudicate the claim for service connection for right ankle strain is granted.,The petition to readjudicate the claim for service connection for hair loss is denied.,The petition to readjudicate the claim for service connection for headaches is granted.,The petition to readjudicate the claim for service connection for neck strain is granted.,The petition to readjudicate the claim for service connection for left shoulder strain is denied because the evidence submitted is not new and relevant.