Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder arthritis is related to her military service and grants her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected low back and bilateral shoulder disabilities, as well as the extension of a temporary total disability rating due to convalescence following surgery on his lumbar spine, are being remanded due to failure to substantially comply with previous Board instructions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and increased ratings for tendonitis of the right shoulder, right ankle disability, and right ankle scar. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the entire appeal filed in September 2020.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left shoulder disabilities are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for services provided by the appellant on July 17, 2019 were denied as there was no indication of prior authorization and the treatment did not meet the criteria for emergency medical care.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 60 percent for his right shoulder replacement, finding that the current 60 percent rating is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5051.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a scar on his right shoulder and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability is remanded due to a potential lack of nexus between the injury in service and any current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome and glenohumeral joint arthritis, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine, left shoulder, and left hip disabilities due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinions. The IBS, overactive bladder disability, and hearing loss disability are being remanded as they may be related to toxic exposure from service. Service connection is granted for Type II diabetes mellitus under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve was dismissed as the claim has been granted in full.,Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve was denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo and dizziness with peripheral vestibular disorder and Meniere's syndrome was granted, but an earlier effective date is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder acromioclavicular joint separation was denied, as the evidence did not establish a diagnosis prior to March 4, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety, depression, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, sciatic neuropathy of the left and right legs, as well as left and right shoulder degenerative arthritis based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to a service-connected disability is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for clarification of the standard used in assessing secondary service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right hand disorder due to missing service treatment records and lack of adequate VA examinations. The case will be returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) upon readjudication.

The Veteran's tinnitus, lower back condition (lumbar arthritis), lower extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder arthritis and tendonitis, and left knee condition are all granted service connection. The hearing loss claim is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, right shoulder disability, bilateral knee condition, and vertigo are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.,No new or relevant evidence has been received that would warrant readjudication of any claim.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service connection, with the Board finding it at least as likely as not that his military service caused or aggravated this condition.,Service connection for left shoulder pain is denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of a left shoulder condition and concluded there was insufficient evidence to link any current symptoms to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, right shoulder and arm, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and cataracts disabilities are being remanded for additional development to address the adequacy of the medical opinions provided.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current lumbar spine, cervical spine, right shoulder and arm, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and cataracts disabilities. The claims are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining adequate medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

Your claims for service connection have been resolved in full with the grant of benefits. No further action is needed.