Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized as degenerative joint disease, is granted an increased rating of 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, left shoulder, right shoulder, and back disabilities due to inadequate VA opinions based on the factual record.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and examination due to missing service medical records, conflicting evidence regarding qualifying Southwest Asia service, and incomplete information about the nature of his conditions.

The Board has determined that further medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's shoulder and arm conditions are related to his service-connected knee disabilities, as well as whether they were aggravated by those disabilities. The claims for secondary service connection will be remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection on four issues: right shoulder disability, depression, obstructive sleep apnea, and right ear hearing loss due to an administrative error in docketing the case twice under identical numbers.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for psychiatric disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, and tinnitus. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for depression, right shoulder disability, lower back (lumbar spine) disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and right ear hearing loss due to potential service connection issues.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and a neck condition. The claims are now remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, and his GERD and hiatal hernia are rated at 30 percent. The higher ratings for both conditions were granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to determine if the Veteran's current right knee and shoulder disorders are related to service, including his job duties as a jet mechanic.

The Veteran's left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndromes are granted service connection. The Veteran's left and right shoulder rotator cuff conditions are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a higher rating for GERD are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations, particularly given his incarceration status.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for the issues of higher ratings for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, the left shoulder, dysthymic disorder, and cervical spine. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder conditions due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and remanded the claims for a higher rating for right shoulder impingement syndrome and TDIU benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral shoulder disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, specifically degenerative arthritis of the spine, bilateral hips, and bilateral knees.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for adjustment disorder has been withdrawn.,His initial compensable rating claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied, as his current hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right hip disorder, left hip disorder, and right shoulder disorder due to inadequate etiological opinions. The Veteran's representative asserts that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected left foot fracture.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board will seek further medical opinions regarding the onset and relationship of these conditions to his military service.