Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete service records, specifically regarding the Veteran's active duty with the Air Force Reserve. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining all relevant medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of left shoulder strain with bursitis and right shoulder strain, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in previous decisions or new evidence to support reopening the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right knee disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses are found to be at least as likely as not related to her active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities due to errors in duty to assist, including failure to consider potential diagnoses such as thoracic outlet syndrome and the relationship between his service-connected neck disability.

The Board has determined that there were pre-decisional duty to assist errors and the claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, requiring a new opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder condition.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine and bilateral shoulder disabilities have been granted increased ratings effective August 25, 2021. The left shoulder disability received a rating of 30 percent, while the right shoulder disability was rated at 30 percent as well.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for GERD was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a more than 10 percent disability rating.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a left shoulder condition is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, arthritis (multiple joints, to include shoulders), and lumbosacral strain due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Veteran's claim for lumbosacral strain is remanded as there are outstanding private treatment records that have not been associated with his claims file.,The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, arthritis (multiple joints, to include shoulders), and lumbosacral strain due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Veteran's claim for lumbosacral strain is remanded as there are outstanding private treatment records that have not been associated with his claims file.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to errors in notice and duty to assist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's recurrent left wrist sprain residuals are service-connected. The remaining issues of service connection for various other disabilities have been remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis as there is no persuasive evidence of their onset during active service or a relationship to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an employment handicap, as he has overcome any impairments to employability through his education, work history, and transferrable skills. Therefore, VR&E benefits are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence and potential procedural errors. The Veteran contends his current right shoulder disability had its onset during active military service, including an incident in January 1978 where he was involved in a motor vehicle accident while wearing a seatbelt.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to a pre-decisional error in the duty to assist, specifically regarding the need for an adequate medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder condition is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder condition.

The Board has denied service connection for sickle cell anemia and remanded the remaining claims due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's right shoulder, back, and knee disabilities are also being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral middle radicular group on a presumptive basis. The claims for left knee and left shoulder disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, to include radiculopathy has been dismissed as the AOJ's January 2024 rating decision granted service connection.,The RO remanded issues regarding a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral recurrent otitis externa and service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, to include nervous condition and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing or incomplete records, and for additional medical opinions regarding his eye conditions.