Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for non-service-connected pension benefits did not include a request for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The effective date of the award of service connection for delusional disorder is October 17, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability may be related to his service, but there is insufficient competent medical evidence of record. The claim is remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 40 percent and the temporary convalescence rating for his right shoulder disability beyond January 1, 2019, is denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, which causes severe pain and limited motion to 25 degrees from the side, has been granted a 40 percent rating effective February 3, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as he does not have a current disability. The claims for tinnitus, headaches, left knee pain, right knee pain, irritable bowel syndrome, left shoulder pain, right shoulder pain, left ankle pain, left hand arthritis, right hand arthritis, numbness in the legs and feet, foot pain/plantar fasciitis/heel spurs, lumbago/back pain, neck pain have all been remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck disability, right shoulder disability, and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to duty-to-assist errors prior to the September 2020 rating decision on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's headache syndrome, right knee condition, rhinitis, right shoulder condition, and lumbar spine condition. The conditions are deemed to be directly related to service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for increased ratings in excess of 30 percent for left shoulder strain, PTSD, and left hip adductor strain, as well as for compensable ratings for shin splints of the right and left lower extremities. The Board dismissed these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound status, as his conditions are manageable with the help of family members.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not result in an inability to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to May 9, 2020. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of unemployability due solely to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder and left hand disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors in prior examinations.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted as service-connected. The claims for the remaining conditions are denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's left shoulder AC joint osteoarthritis is denied service connection. The right shoulder AC joint arthritis and labral tear, lumbosacral spine degenerative changes, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each granted initial 30 percent disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, right hip arthritis, left hip arthritis, hypertension, and GERD. The VA examiner is required to provide an opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea, back, knee, and shoulder disabilities prevent him from securing or following gainful employment. The Board finds the evidence to be in equipoise as to whether these conditions meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, finding that it is etiologically related to an in-service injury during military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and migraines, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since June 22, 2011. Effective as of April 30, 2019, she is entitled to a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of right shoulder bursitis was granted with an effective date of December 16, 2019. The Board found that the earliest date upon which the Veteran filed a claim leading to the grant of service connection for the disability is January 28, 2019.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at a 30 percent rating, and his right hip and left hip replacement disabilities are each rated at a 50 percent rating. The Veteran's right knee total replacement with residuals is rated at a 60 percent rating.,Initial compensable ratings for scars of the right shoulder, right hip, right knee, and left hip were denied.

Your appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. No service connection decisions were made.