Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for vocal cord disorder, upper digestive disorder, right shoulder disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and knee disorders. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his right shoulder disability was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, which includes degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis, is not service-connected because it existed prior to service and was aggravated by natural progression rather than being incurred or aggravated during service.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability is denied as not related to his in-service injury or a psychiatric disorder.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability is denied as not related to his in-service injury or a psychiatric disorder.,The Veteran's headache disability (claimed as migraine headaches) is denied as not secondary to his major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder condition, finding that it had its onset in service and is not related to her service-connected neck disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of low back and left shoulder disorders due to an administrative error where the same appeal was docketed twice under identical numbers.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability and an acquired psychiatric condition on a direct basis due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee, hand, wrist, and shoulder disabilities due to a lack of medical nexus between these conditions and his active duty.,An earlier effective date prior to October 30, 2018, for grant of service connection for PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a left knee disorder was granted. Service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, while the claims for asthma, seizure disorder, low back disorder, right knee disorder, and left shoulder disorder/right shoulder disorder are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical reports and a need for another VA examination. The Veteran's right shoulder condition is being reviewed again to determine if it is related to service, including his reported fall down stairs on July 4th.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent from April 15, 2014, to August 12, 2016, and at 20 percent from August 12, 2016, forward.,Both periods of increased rating were denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his assertions of exposure to environmental toxins and injuries during military service. The cases are now pending before a VA examiner for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to October 10, 2018, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cervical spine and right shoulder disorders, both claimed as secondary to service-connected plantar fasciitis. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from August 29, 2018 to February 12, 2021 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a right testicular disability, tinnitus, and dental trauma to include TMJ. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, dyspepsia, eye disorder, headaches, left wrist condition, neck condition, right shoulder condition, and traumatic brain injury are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection due to incomplete records, inadequate reasons or bases in previous decisions, and need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has not manifested as flexion and/or abduction limited to 25 degrees to the side or less, thus his claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has found that the development conducted by the RO did not comply with a prior remand and has ordered another VA medical examination to determine if the Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities are related to his active service.