Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal is denied for service connection for a left arm disability other than left upper extremity radiculopathy and left shoulder disability. The case is remanded for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of diabetes mellitus, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, and seizure disorder due to potential herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was dismissed as the July 2020 rating decision granted it.,The claims for a headache disability, right knee disability, right shoulder disability, and muscle spasms are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disorder, lower back pain, scars, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and a right ankle disorder have been dismissed as there are no remaining questions of fact or law to be decided.,Service connection has been granted for the following conditions: left shoulder separation s/p acromioclavicular joint sprain, lumbar strain, scars of the left upper and right lower extremities, scar of the left upper extremity, scar of the right lower extremity, and schizoaffective disorder, depressed type. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle sprain, right ankle disorder, status post healed fracture to left foot, and right foot disorder have been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development of the Veteran's Reserve service records and scheduling issues with VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to additional VA medical records and examinations being added to the claims file, which have not yet been addressed in a rating decision or SSOC.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was denied. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim, but did not grant service connection due to lack of nexus between the left knee disability and military service. For his left shoulder disability, the Veteran received a 30% rating, which is higher than what he previously had. His back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy were all granted increased ratings. The GERD claim was also granted with specific dates.

The Board has remanded the claims for further examination and medical opinions regarding the veteran's neck, right shoulder, and right upper extremity disabilities. The examinations must address whether these conditions are related to service, including deployment in Iraq.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various joint disabilities prior to September 27, 2002 due to a need for further development and medical opinions.

The appeal for higher initial ratings for PTSD and IBS is dismissed.,The appeals for service connection for anxiety, bilateral lung scarring, bilateral hearing loss, a disability manifested by memory loss, a nerve disability of the right upper extremity, and a nerve disability of the left upper extremity are dismissed.,Service connection for TBI is granted. Service connection for migraines is also granted as secondary to TBI.,Service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities alone have precluded him from obtaining or following substantially gainful employment, and he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). Additionally, his additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more have met the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.

The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability. The claims for service connection for hepatitis C and left shoulder arthritis are remanded due to inadequate examination reports, and the TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his left shoulder strain with degenerative arthritis was granted, but the current assigned rating of 20 percent is maintained.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the October 2023 remand directives and thus, the case is being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder/arm disability, lumbar spine disability, and headaches due to the lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to in-service noise exposure. The left shoulder condition is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his left shoulder disability, bilateral tinea pedis, or lumbar spine disability prior to March 03, 2017. Service connection was granted for right hip disorder, left hip disorder, and headache disorder as secondary to other service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disorder. The examiner failed to address the Veteran's lay statements about his in-service symptoms and duty as a combat medic.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence for the Veteran's claims of right shoulder, left knee, left ankle, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities.