Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed left shoulder and collar bone injuries. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim from May 4, 2016, to July 24, 2017, is dismissed as moot because he was already receiving a 100% disability rating for PTSD. The SMC claim prior to July 25, 2017, is also dismissed due to the Veteran's other service-connected disabilities not meeting the required criteria.

Service connection for low back pain, diagnosed as degenerative disc changes is granted. Service connection for lumbar pelvic dysfunction is denied. Entitlement to service connection for a left knee condition and a right knee condition are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right shoulder disorders due to the lack of current diagnoses. The respiratory disorder (COPD and Asthma) is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back and right shoulder disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset during service. The Veteran reported multiple in-service injuries, including a flipped bulldozer and motor vehicle accident.

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

The Board has dismissed the issues of entitlement to service connection for right arm and right hand disabilities due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The issues of entitlement to service connection for low back and right shoulder disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for headaches and bilateral shoulder disorder, but denied the claim for service connection for narcolepsy. The appeals are remanded for further development.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted, but service connection for right shoulder disability and left shoulder disability (secondary to right shoulder) are denied.,The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service, while his right shoulder disability was not related to service. The left shoulder disability is also not linked to service.

The Board has found that additional development is necessary before the Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating and TDIU can be adjudicated on the merits. The claims are being remanded to obtain VA treatment records, provide another opportunity for a VA examination, and consider the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder, TBI, headaches, right knee disorder, right shoulder condition, and neck pain are denied as they have already been addressed in his grant of service connection for PTSD.

This decision denies the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than March 19, 2018 for right shoulder joint replacement under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and a rating in excess of 80 percent for his service-connected right shoulder disability. The claim for TDIU is also denied.,TDIU was denied as the Veteran's education and experience would qualify him for non-physical or sedentary work, despite his service-connected disabilities preventing physical labor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to a lack of evidence showing that VA carelessness, negligence, or error caused his additional disability (septic arthritis). The examiner concluded that the infection was more likely related to the CSI injection performed in October 2015 and not due to VA's failure to diagnose or treat properly.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder strain and lower back condition due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as none of her service-connected disabilities, alone, are severe enough to prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims for various conditions. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left wrist ganglion cyst is denied as he is already receiving the maximum schedular rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and a right shoulder condition, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or event related to these conditions.,Service connection was not granted as the medical opinions provided did not support a link between the current disabilities and active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a hernia due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service.,The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and right shoulder disability for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings was denied across multiple issues, including a left shoulder disability not found to be separate from her established MS. The appeals were based on the same underlying condition.

The Board denied service connection for back, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities, as well as a sinus disability. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the current diagnoses and military service.