Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted effective May 21, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran detrimentally relied on the actions taken by the AOJ and thus grants an earlier effective date of September 30, 2016.

The Veteran's current left shoulder condition is not related to his military service, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for left shoulder strain, left rotator cuff tear, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, glenohumeral joint dislocation, degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder.

The Veteran's left shoulder condition is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to service or his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board denied the appellant's request for attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the October 2022 rating decision, as the claims were not appealable initial decisions and did not involve new evidence or a change in circumstances.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that there is no causal relationship between his current condition and any in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder strain, low back disability, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of right shoulder tendinitis, pain, and rhomboid pain are at least as likely as not related to injuries incurred during active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his left shoulder surgical scars as they do not meet the criteria under Diagnostic Code 7802.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal due to a request from their attorney, and the Board has dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has remanded all service connection claims due to the need for additional evidence, including missing STRs and VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the July 2023 rating decision granted service connection for a right shoulder condition, right knee condition, and tinnitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA on a secondary basis to his service-connected left shoulder degenerative arthritis and PTSD (previously rated as anxiety disorder), with obesity serving as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a combined rating of 100 percent throughout the review period. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is dismissed as moot because there is no indication that any single disability alone warrants a TDIU.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of September 28, 2015 for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The TDIU was awarded due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The DEA eligibility is also granted as of September 28, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, and thoracolumbar spine disability. The claims were previously denied due to lack of in-service disease or injury and no nexus shown to service.

The Board has remanded the service connection claim for a left shoulder disability due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board found no evidence to warrant a compensable rating.,For his left shoulder disability, the Board determined that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating due to limited motion being less than 25 degrees from the side. The Veteran's appeal was denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a right ankle disorder, a right shoulder disorder, and a right knee strain (claimed as a right leg injury). The claim of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remands and is now requesting additional evidence from SSA to properly adjudicate the service connection claims for right shoulder, right hip, and left hip disorders.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of limitation of motion to 25 degrees or less from the side.