Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability. The Veteran claims his current left shoulder disability is related to military service, specifically an in-service airplane accident and a pre-existing left elbow fracture.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right elbow disabilities, a left shoulder disability, and a right knee disability due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining VA treatment records from March 2018 to May 2019.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee, right knee, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities must be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain new etiology opinions regarding the onset of these conditions in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder arthritis requires further development due to a pre-decisional error in VA's duty to assist.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back condition and right shoulder condition, finding that there is at least an equipoise of evidence to support these claims. The Veteran's current conditions are believed to have originated during his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various shoulder and knee disorders due to toxic environmental exposures. Additional evidence is needed, including addendum opinions addressing the synergistic effect of all toxic exposure risk activities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and cervical conditions due to insufficient evidence regarding his periods of qualifying military service. The Veteran is also required to provide a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for accrued benefits based on service connection for PTSD and left ear hearing loss have been granted. The remaining claims are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding peripheral nerve and shoulder examinations.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, cervical condition (including cervical strain with chronic pain), and right shoulder strain have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected conditions.,Service connection for these conditions is established based on a continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has dismissed all appeals due to the appellant's withdrawal of all pending appeals.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of left knee condition, right knee condition, and right shoulder condition due to a lack of VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have any right and left hand, wrist, shoulder, knee, hip, neck, or back disorders during service. The post-service medical records do not show a continuity of symptoms for these conditions until at least 21 years after service ended. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder bursitis status post SLAP repair, right shoulder bursitis status post SLAP repair, and neck strain. Service connection for tinnitus was dismissed as the appeal had already been rendered moot by a prior grant of benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines, a back condition, and various arm, elbow, hand, knee, and shoulder conditions, finding that there was no persuasive evidence of current diagnoses or in-service onset related to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and left shoulder impingement syndrome with bicipital tendon tear, rotator cuff tear and tendonitis. The decision is based on direct evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection is established.,PTSD, insomnia secondary to PTSD, a bilateral hand condition, a lumbar spine condition, and a right hip condition are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral shoulder condition, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for a back disability, left shoulder disability, and persistent depressive disorder with major depressive disorder due to duty-to-assist errors. The claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's hearing loss was rated as zero percent, and the Board has remanded for further examination to determine if service connection is warranted for his left shoulder and low back disabilities. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for left shoulder and low back disabilities are now pending.