Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and right shoulder degenerative arthritis have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, stroke, gallbladder disability as secondary to service-connected disability, and unspecified pain condition as secondary to prostate, lung, and gallbladder disabilities. The Board found no evidence of an in-service injury or illness that could have caused these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and neck disabilities, bilateral pes planus, right shoulder disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity numbness, and left upper extremity numbness are related to service. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of right and left shoulder degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including anxiety and several musculoskeletal issues. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has denied service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, arthritis, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during or are related to active service.,Service connection was granted for bilateral flat foot in January 2021 with an effective date of April 18, 2020.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder AC joint osteoarthritis, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection on all issues related to sinusitis, erectile dysfunction, shoulder conditions, sleep disturbances, and migraine.

The Veteran's left shoulder condition is granted service connection, while his claims for bilateral foot pain, right knee pain, and residuals of a right hand injury are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including scarring (itchy) of the right shoulder, right buttocks, and knee; right shoulder injury; left shoulder injury; left knee condition; left ankle condition; TBI; and vision impairment. These conditions are related to his in-service motorcycle accident in April 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as he has not provided a VA Form 21-8940, and his employment status is unclear. The Board cannot evaluate the economic and noneconomic components of the substantially gainful employment standard.

The Board has determined that the VA did not provide a necessary examination for the Veteran's right shoulder, lumbar strain, and right knee disorders. The claims are being remanded to schedule these examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to seek an etiology opinion for the Veteran's right shoulder condition, which is currently diagnosed as osteoarthritis of the shoulder. The Veteran will be provided with an appropriate VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his right shoulder condition.

The Veteran's claims for right shoulder and right knee disabilities were granted with an effective date of September 4, 2020. The Board is remanding the issues of service connection for sleep apnea (secondary to psychiatric disability) and lumbar spine disability.,The Veteran has not provided a clear indication that he believes his lumbar spine disability is related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder strain and left pes cavus (claw foot) due to duty-to-assist errors.,For the claim of bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran is not entitled to service connection as there is no current disability. For tinnitus, the evidence is in equipoise as to whether it began during service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service connected. The right shoulder injury and skin cancer claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for effective dates earlier than February 13, 2020 for his right and left shoulder disabilities. The appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tear, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset in service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service records are incomplete and remands for further efforts to obtain these records. The issues of service connection remain on appeal.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his back disability and right shoulder disability are each rated at 20 percent. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of a left shoulder and right knee disabilities.