Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the VA examinations used to rate the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are inadequate and remanded for further examination. The issues of rating higher than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, rating higher than 10 percent for right knee strain with lateral and medical collateral ligament strain, status-post meniscal repair, service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff tear, and service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder are all remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and intervertebral disc syndrome with spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis are granted as directly related to service. The right shoulder condition is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right lower lobe lung condition and a right shoulder condition are granted, with the effective date being the date of receipt of claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck, left shoulder, left hand, and right hand/wrist conditions due to a lack of examination and etiology opinions regarding these conditions. The Veteran's service connection claim is not related to any specific exposure basis or presumption.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, cervical spine disability, and lumbosacral spine disability, all of which are deemed to have begun during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his representation and the appeal is no longer valid.

The Veteran's arthritis of the back, bilateral knees, and bilateral shoulders were not shown to be related to his service. The Board found that there was no evidence connecting the Veteran's arthritis to exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, left shoulder condition (arthritis), low back disability, migraine headaches, and cervical spine disability have all been granted. The appeals were decided on the merits of the evidence presented.

The Veteran's painful surgical scars of the right ankle and left knee have been granted a 10 percent disability rating.

The appeal is remanded for further development to address the Veteran's claims of increased rating for his back disability, service connection for various shoulder and hip conditions, sleep condition, and fibromyalgia.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the left shoulder disability effective July 9, 2015. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the TDIU is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neurological impairment of the right shoulder, finding that it had its onset during service and is related to his active duty. The Veteran now has a compensable disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee and right shoulder disabilities, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service.,Service connection was established based on direct service connection due to the Veteran's reported injuries during military service.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was granted service connection due to exposure risk activities during his military service. Service connection for a concussion and left knee degenerative joint disease were denied, as the evidence did not support these claims. The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder received increased ratings up until May 20, 2019, when he was granted a 70% disability rating. Other service connection requests were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for extraschedular TDIU as his service-connected right shoulder disability did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 17, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various arthritis conditions due to insufficient reasoning in VA medical opinions and need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to April 27, 2017 were denied as there was no evidence of a claim filed before that date.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus was not granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including right knee disability, left knee injury, arthritis, chest scar, blurred vision, high blood pressure, and shoulder injuries. The decision does not address dental scars or provide a rating assigned.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, generalized arthritis of the bilateral shoulders and left hand, and TDIU due to outstanding VA treatment records and inadequate examination opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection, rating higher than 20 percent for right arm/shoulder disability, and a rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD due to outstanding VA treatment records. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea is also remanded.