Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for a left wrist disorder, to include as secondary to a left shoulder disorder, needs further development and is therefore remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the condition. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection due to lack of a current service-connected left elbow disability.

The Veteran's left shoulder strain is rated at 20% since July 29, 2006. The current rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine remains at 20% from October 24, 2017.,Prior to April 21, 2023, the Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied. From April 21, 2023, the matter is moot as a 100% schedular rating has been assigned with entitlement to Special Monthly Compensation (SMC).

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine condition and a right shoulder condition, with the latter being denied as secondary to the former.,There is no evidence of a right shoulder condition in service or any nexus between the current right shoulder condition and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a tailbone disability has been reopened, and the appeal is granted. The right shoulder disability remains at 20 percent, with no extraschedular rating or TDIU granted. Left hip degenerative changes and residual scars of the chest remain at their current evaluations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for color blindness, right shoulder disability, and back disability due to incomplete medical opinions and the need for additional records.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disability, right ankle disability, and left shoulder disability. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is considered pre-existing.,Service connection was also granted for the Veteran's right shoulder disability due to his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the claim for nonservice-connected pension (NSP) for the period from October 31, 2012, to January 21, 2013 due to insufficient development following prior remands. The Veteran's income and countable income during this period need to be documented.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his left shoulder disorder, as well as secondary disorders. The Veteran is advised to undergo a VA examination to determine if he has any current left shoulder disorders and whether they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete adjudication, and requires issuance of a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his right shoulder strain is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his increased ratings for right and left shoulder disabilities, finding no CUE in the February 2008 rating decision.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for TBI, PTSD, and various orthopedic disabilities have been granted. The cases are now remanded for further development.,The Board has determined that new evidence supports reopening the claims but cannot definitively link the conditions to service without additional examination.

The Veteran's PTSD, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability are all remanded for further examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied a rating higher than 20 percent for left lumbar radiculopathy. The Veteran's claim for a rating higher than 20 percent for his left shoulder disability is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability and a right shoulder disability, but has remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine and bilateral hip disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and remanded the issues of increased ratings for varicose veins and entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder impingement and degenerative AC joint disease, right eye disability (retinal disorder, cataracts, blepharitis, dry eye syndrome, macula scars of posterior pole), 4th and 5th left toe stress fracture residuals, and cervical spine disability. Service connection was denied for a right wrist/hand disability and left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis, low back spondylosis/arthritic conditions, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and sinusitis. The issues of service connection for right knee strain and left knee strain are remanded.