Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, left shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, and left ankle disability due to incomplete records. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain all relevant service treatment and personnel records from the Veteran's active duty service and Army National Guard/Army Reserve.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for GERD, left shoulder disorder, low back disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and carpal tunnel syndrome due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA shoulder examination to assess the Veteran's left shoulder disability. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right upper extremity radiculopathy, migraines, left upper extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder slap tear, degenerative arthritis of cervical spine, left knee disability, TBI, tinnitus, asthma, and erectile dysfunction, rendered him unable to obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining and maintaining such employment.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder traumatic arthritis, right wrist traumatic arthritis, and right ankle traumatic arthritis. The decision finds that the Veteran's depressive disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and increased rating for the listed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for left shoulder strain, right wrist injury and associated residuals, and service connection for left sciatica. The Veteran's complaints of functional loss will be considered during the remand process.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of the right and left lower extremity radiculopathies, TDIU prior to March 16, 2012, and increased ratings for low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies were granted effective January 7, 2011. The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease and essential tremors, as well as his claim for SMC based on aid and attendance needs, are denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating issues related to low back pain, contact dermatitis, migraine headaches, PTSD, sleep apnea, IBS, left ear hearing loss, bilateral knees, and bilateral shoulders as untimely.

The Veteran's effective date for the grant of service connection for a left shoulder disability is set at August 4, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The claim to reopen a previously denied hip osteoarthritis was granted, but the new evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right shoulder condition and has denied service connection for this condition. The cases related to left ankle strain, right ankle strain, right knee condition, and left knee condition are all remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on several issues, including service connection claims and disability rating determinations.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings for migraines and right shoulder degenerative changes have been withdrawn. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal of representation.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder impingement syndrome, finding the Veteran's symptoms and range of motion did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and a respiratory condition (collapsed lung with shortness of breath) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service, including exposure to burn pits. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for secondary service connection as well.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine osteoarthritis and cervical strain, but has remanded the issues of traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine and shoulders due to incomplete evaluations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, elbow, wrist, and low back disabilities due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. The claims are being remanded for further examination and consideration.