Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, hearing loss, vertigo, and hypothyroidism due to potential exposure to anti-malarial medications and toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right knee disability and its secondary effects on other joints and systems. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant records, conduct additional development, and provide appropriate VA examinations as needed.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal has been granted in full.,The application to reopen the claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus and shin splints is granted, but further examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's cervical spine, left ankle disorders (including arthritis), and right shoulder disabilities are granted. The Veteran's left and right ankle disabilities are also granted. However, the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left and right shoulders remain pending as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's initial rating for right shoulder impingement syndrome is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating. The ratings for neck condition, TMJ with bruxism, and GERD are also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and rating of his conditions has been dismissed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability and low back condition should be remanded due to procedural errors, lack of VA examination, and need for additional records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of cervical arthritis has been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his disability warrants a higher evaluation.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding an increased rating for right shoulder arthritis, and this issue is dismissed.,Service connection for tinnitus was denied because there is no credible evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's heart condition, supraventricular tachycardia, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,An initial disability rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's migraine headache disorder is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as there was no in-service hearing impairment that resulted in a current disability.,The Veteran's chronic left and right foot pain are not service-connected due to the lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or event, and the absence of any post-service medical treatment for these conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded both his claim for a higher rating and his TDIU claim due to inadequate examination in determining the severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability, esophageal disability (GERD and Barrett's Esophagus), OSA, and PTSD. The Veteran's claim for migraine headaches is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis (claimed as arm condition, right, forearm condition and shoulder condition, right) has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by his authorized representative.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received sufficient to readjudicate the claims for service connection for OSA, neck condition, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, left elbow condition, and back condition. The AOJ is required to obtain a VA medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound status due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the earliest date of entitlement to service connection was November 25, 2020, when the Veteran was diagnosed with left shoulder neurological disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back, neck, left leg, right leg, left hand neurological, left hand (other than a left hand neurological disability), right hand, left arm neurological, left arm (other than a left arm neurological disability), right arm, head injury, collarbone, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities due to the absence of service treatment records. The Veteran's statements regarding an in-service explosion are considered credible.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection as they have been granted in a previous decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder and left knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within the presumptive period following discharge. The Board also found that any current disabilities were not caused by service.