Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have led to the need for regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance. The issue of SMC at the housebound rate is dismissed as it is a lesser benefit than SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's combination of service-connected disabilities, including her acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral knee and ankle conditions, has rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants the TDIU claim for the entire appeal period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral foot disability, and right shoulder disability due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The appeal is denied.

The Board has granted effective dates of February 20, 2018 for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that his current condition is related to his in-service combat injury and presumptively presumed due to his service in Iraq.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD is dismissed as the Veteran's claim has been fully granted. The appeals for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, left shoulder strain, and a left knee condition are remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection due to his withdrawal of the claim for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining claims for tinnitus, multiple joint disorders (shoulders, elbow, back, knees, ankles, feet, toes), and radiculopathy were denied as not supported by evidence of a current disability or a causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right shoulder strain, lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted TDIU based on the combined rating of 80 percent for these service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests to readjudicate his claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition. The evidence did not show new and relevant information that could change the outcome of these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD, deviated septum, allergic rhinitis, and left shoulder sprain with pain are all found to be related to her military service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD, deviated septum, allergic rhinitis (secondary to deviated septum), and left shoulder sprain with pain.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sinus bradycardia was voluntarily withdrawn. The RO granted a 30 percent rating for migraines and granted separate ratings of 10 percent each for right knee strain with shin splints s/p arthroscopy, right knee instability, and right knee post-operative meniscectomy. The appeal concerning left shoulder disability, plantar warts, left knee disability, and internal hemorrhoids is remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder. As a result, the appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected disabilities.,Service connection claims for type II diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea are also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeal for TDIU was also denied as there is no evidence showing that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various disabilities and a higher rating for headaches. The specific issues are: left shoulder disability, radiculopathy of the upper extremities, unspecified sleep disorder, and increased rating for headaches.

The Veteran's death was attributed to multiple blunt force injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, not related to his service-connected conditions. The Board found no evidence linking the cause of death to active duty or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the August 2015 and October 2016 rating decisions, thus the Board has no jurisdiction to consider these appeals.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of painful right ankle scars is denied. The appeal for a rating greater than 30 percent for painful right ankle scars and a compensable rating for nonpainful right ankle scars is also denied. SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another person prior to January 8, 2019, and after July 1, 2019, is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's current right shoulder disability to his service, specifically a June 1987 injury during training. The Veteran needs to be examined by a clinician to determine if this injury is related to his current condition.