Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings and effective dates, as well as service connection claims related to sciatica, degenerative disc disease, adjustment disorder, right shoulder impingement syndrome, and heart condition secondary to weight gain.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claim for service connection of his left shoulder disability due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability, muscle pain, chest and ribs condition, and headaches are remanded for further examination and opinion.,Resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, her bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the last rating decision warrants readjudication of the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disabilities. The AOJ must now consider this new evidence in conjunction with the existing record to determine if service connection should be granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and multiple sclerosis. The Veteran did not provide new and relevant evidence to reopen his claim of retinal dystrophy (bilateral macular degeneration).

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep disturbances, finding that his condition is proximately due to his service-connected shoulder disability. The extent of this problem is not before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for IBS is granted. The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective October 3, 2019. The claims for a gastrointestinal disability other than IBS and left shoulder degenerative arthritis are remanded.

The appeal is granted for service connection of PTSD, extraction of 4 wisdom teeth, fractured rib, left ankle pain, left knee pain, left wrist pain, refractive eye surgery, and right shoulder bursitis. The appeals of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and entitlement to service connection for right shoulder bursitis are dismissed as moot.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his right shoulder, left hip, and left knee disabilities. The Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities preventing him from maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudicating the previously denied claim of service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's right shoulder replacement is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error, and his right knee degenerative joint disease is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including sinusitis, rhinitis, a neck disability, and a right shoulder disability, caused his sleep apnea. The Board granted the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected bilateral hearing loss warranted a compensable rating.,The Board found that the Veteran's right and left shoulder tendonitis, and right and left knee osteoarthritis are related to service, including the March 2009 fall during military training.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's low back, right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder conditions are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's psychiatric condition (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder) and hypertension are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been evaluated at a maximum of 20 percent throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's service-connected painful scars on his bilateral shoulders are rated at the maximum 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a 50% disability rating for bilateral pes planus with metatarsalgia was granted effective February 9, 2020. The Board found that the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability occurred was January 13, 2020.

The Veteran's right shoulder bursitis, bilateral achilles tendonitis, and left knee disability have been rated for the relevant period. The Board has granted a 40% rating for his right shoulder bursitis from July 1, 2013, and TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea syndromes, nephrolithiasis/kidney condition, left shoulder condition, and left elbow condition have been denied. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent disabling for his left wrist degenerative arthritis (DA) with history of tendonitis has also been denied.,The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's initial disability evaluation for rhinitis was denied, and the claims of service connection for eczema/skin disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right foot disorder (pes planus) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions. The appellant's left shoulder, right elbow, left elbow, right hip, left hip, and bilateral foot disabilities are being reviewed.

Your appeal for a higher rating for your right shoulder condition has been dismissed because you requested to withdraw it.