Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for tinnitus, GERD, hypertension, left hand condition, right hand condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, neck disability, and right ankle condition. The new evidence received since the last denial is relevant to an in-service event that the Veteran believes caused his disabilities and a nexus between service and the disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence supporting the requested increases or connections.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left shoulder disability, as previous examinations did not adequately address her various diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the receipt of new evidence that has not been considered by the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional adjudication due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, considering whether his service-connected pansinusitis and/or allergic rhinitis or obesity as an intermediate step caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder strain, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and ratings related to various conditions has been dismissed. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right knee, left knee, and right foot disabilities have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and clarifying diagnoses. The gastrointestinal disability issue remains on appeal as service connection was granted for gastric ulcers in a December 2023 rating decision.

The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is dismissed. The appeals for service connection of the Veteran's back disability, right knee disabilities, left knee disabilities, right shoulder disabilities, and left shoulder disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and a right shoulder disorder, finding no evidence of such conditions during or after service. The Veteran's lay assertions were not credible on the matters of diagnosis and etiology.,For his initial disability rating claim for a right wrist strain, the Board found that ankylosis was not present, thus denying a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and left little finger paresthesia and hypesthesia due to ulnar nerve entrapment. The evidence of record does not support a current diagnosis or link these conditions to service.,The VA examinations conducted on remand did not provide sufficient information regarding the Veteran's neck and back disabilities, which were also part of her appeal.

The Board has decided that the Veteran should be scheduled for a DRO hearing due to her request, and the appeal is being remanded accordingly.

The Board has remanded the claims for left shoulder disability, excision of moles and cysts, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete evaluations and lack of compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left shoulder disabilities, as well as intermittent asthma and gallbladder with internal polyps, have been granted on a secondary basis to her service-connected cervical strain.,Service connection has also been granted for costochondritis.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for skin cancer was dismissed as the benefit sought has been granted.,The Board finds that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen claims for service connection of a brain tumor and right shoulder condition, which were previously denied in January 2018. The Veteran's VA Supplemental Claim and associated medical records are considered new and material.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, generalized anxiety disorder, right knee instability, right shoulder disability, and left elbow disability have all been granted ratings.,Specifically, the Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are granted, but the claim for service connection of the psychiatric disorders is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to April 27, 2012 due to incomplete development and referral for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a clarifying opinion from a VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of any current left shoulder disorder.