Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has vacated the denial of a higher rating for right shoulder impingement with rotator cuff tear and remanded it. The TDIU claim is also on appeal due to its inextricability from the increased rating claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including right shoulder, right knee, naval hernia, bladder incontinence, anxiety disorder, and back disability, are not service-connected as they do not have a direct causal relationship to her active duty service.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for chronic right and left shoulder strains have been denied.,The Veteran's TDIU claim has also been denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling for limitation of motion, and a separate 10 percent rating has been granted for instability from May 1, 2021. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an increased rating for either condition.,Service connection for various secondary disabilities (right shoulder, left shoulder, right ankle, left ankle, right hip, left hip, and foot pain) is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee meniscal tear was denied as the flexion limitation did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The TDIU claim was also denied due to the Veteran's service-connected conditions not preventing him from obtaining and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to November 15, 2022 due to his service-connected disabilities as they did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous directives, including scheduling a new VA examination and obtaining an etiology opinion regarding the right shoulder condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability did not begin during service and is unrelated to any in-service injury or disease. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology since service, nor can it be presumed due to the one-year post-service period without showing chronicity.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate development of evidence, particularly regarding the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis. The issues are now pending for further development.

The Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, skin disability, impaired vision, and colon polyps have been reopened. Service connection is granted for the skin disability (eczema). The other issues remain denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that there is no persuasive evidence establishing the current condition as related to an injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty during his period of INACDUTRA. The character of discharge for this period was found to be under other than honorable and barred him from VA benefits.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right shoulder disability is remanded due to the need for an examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed condition.

The Board has found that further development is needed, including consideration of new evidence and issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The claims for service connection for various disabilities are being remanded to allow for this additional review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his right shoulder, knee, hip, ankle, elbow, headaches, neck, chest pains, and dental issues. The VA will provide these examinations and obtain the necessary opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability due to insufficient evidence of an in-service event, injury, or incurrence related to his current diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder and left elbow disorders, finding that the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred during active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's combined disability rating was correctly calculated as 80 percent prior to September 4, 2019. A higher combined rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective November 18, 2019.,Service connection for the left shoulder strain, status post left clavicle fracture was denied as there were no compensable symptoms prior to November 18, 2019.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for right shoulder disability (limitation of motion) and a 30 percent rating for recurrent dislocation (subluxation) of the glenohumeral joint throughout the appeal period, finding that these ratings adequately reflect the Veteran's symptoms.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including reopening of claims for low back disability, left shoulder disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The rating for an acquired psychiatric disability is also being remanded.