Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted. The claims for brain damage, breast disability, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability are currently pending and need further examination to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various types of chronic pain syndrome were denied, and the effective date was not granted earlier than May 2, 2022.

The Veteran's gastric ulcer with erosive gastroduodenitis is granted an initial 20 percent rating.,Other service connection claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding records and duty to assist omissions.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for bronchial asthma, left shoulder pain, degenerative arthritis of the spine (cervical spine degenerative joint disease with degenerative disc disease), and major depressive disorder due to a procedural defect in filing the Notice of Disagreement.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of right and left shoulder disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations in June 2022, which did not consider the Veteran's lay statements about his long history of shoulder pain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, limitation of motion of the left ankle, limitation of motion of the right ankle, and limitation of motion of the left arm were denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to service.,There are no indications that any of the claimed conditions have a direct link to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and hemorrhoids. The denial is due to lack of evidence showing that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for an adequate VA examination and a retrospective opinion on his right shoulder disability prior to February 2020.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for PTSD due to insufficient VA medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of her back and shoulder conditions, as well as a lack of sufficient information in the July 2022 VA examination for PTSD.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error in the September 2021 rating decision and has ordered further development to verify the appellant's alleged active duty Reserve service dates. The issues on appeal are now remanded for readjudication.

The Veteran's BPH with LUTS is being remanded due to the inadequate opinion provided by the VA examiner. The examiner did not address direct service connection or whether the condition was aggravated by a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded because the VA examiner's opinion does not include direction and aggravation opinions, nor does it consider the medical evidence of record in light of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his right knee strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for eligibility under the PCAFC program due to his ability to perform activities of daily living and lack of need for personal care services.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, right knee, left knee, back, neck, and right shoulder disorders. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 70 percent for other specified stressor related disorder with major depressive disorder is granted, effective from March 30, 2020. His separate ratings for left shoulder degenerative arthritis and glenohumeral joint instability and dislodged fixation screw (under DC 5201) and left shoulder recurrent dislocation (under DC 5202) are maintained at 20 percent each.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for limitation of motion of the right arm, associated with shoulder impingement, is dismissed because no rating decision was issued within a year prior to his Notice of Disagreement.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's left shoulder condition and its relation to his service. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right shoulder strain is denied. A temporary total rating based on March 3, 2022 surgery and convalescence is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, finding no evidence of a current disability related to his active duty service. The claim for secondary service connection for right knee disability is remanded due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether it was caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition.