Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck condition and low back condition. The claims for left shoulder condition and left hip condition are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for additional development and examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hand disabilities remains pending.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities remains pending.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities remains pending.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability (claimed as arthritis) remains pending.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability (claimed as arthritis) remains pending.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae remains pending.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected right ankle strain remains pending.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining a VA examiner's curriculum vitae and private medical records. The RO will also schedule the Veteran for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his hip, shoulder, knee, and foot disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right shoulder degenerative joint disease was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of motion to midway between the side and shoulder level or flexion and/or abduction limited to 45 degrees, which would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder is not service-connected as there was no in-service diagnosis and no current disability.,Right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, right hip condition, and left hip condition are not service-connected due to lack of evidence of an in-service injury or illness.,Low back disability is not service-connected because the Veteran did not sustain any in-service incident, illness, or injury related to this condition.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy are also not service-connected as they are secondary to a nonservice-connected low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for rhinitis and sinusitis, but the appeal is dismissed as there are no allegations of error. The Veteran's recurrent left shoulder disability was not shown during active service or many years thereafter, and thus service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and right arm disorders have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims.,The Veteran's appeal for testicular disorder has also been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claim.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including panic attacks, memory loss, anxiety), a low back disorder, and tinnitus.

Service connection is denied for a right shoulder condition, back disability, ingrown toenails of the left and right feet, eye condition (refractive error), hearing loss, respiratory condition, digestive condition, and chronic fatigue syndrome.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus and depression with anxiety.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disorder and its relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neck and shoulder conditions as secondary to service-connected costochondritis due to a duty to provide a medical opinion under McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional service treatment records from October 1976 to July 1979. The appellant's current hearing loss disability in either ear does not meet VA criteria, and his other conditions have not been established as service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide the necessary VA examinations. The PACT Act does not apply as the Veteran is not a Persian Gulf Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disorders, including neck, ankle, shoulder, hip, leg, and knee conditions. The remand requires new medical opinions to address the nature and etiology of these disorders in relation to service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tendonitis and AC joint arthritis is denied. The claims for service connection for PTSD and MDD are also denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 40 percent since August 3, 2011. The Board also granted TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension has not met the criteria for a higher rating.,There is no evidence of diagnosed bilateral shoulder, low back, left wrist, or knee disabilities. The lung condition and cardiovascular disability are also not supported by evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status or need for regular aid and attendance prior to December 14, 2019 was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless that he required regular assistance.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and left arm conditions due to lack of evidence supporting a chronic condition since service.,The Board has also remanded the claim for service connection for the left shoulder condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for additional examinations.