Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's 20% rating for degenerative arthritis, instability and dislocation right shoulder was restored from September 1, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and increased ratings for his left shoulder disability, scars, and TDIU was denied. The VA also determined that the Veteran is not eligible for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability remains on appeal as he is presumed to be seeking the maximum available benefit. The Board has characterized the issue accordingly and remanded the matter due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of non-VA medical care at Good Samaritan Hospital on August 4, 2012 is being remanded due to a billing issue. The AOJ must provide the Veteran with complete notice and address the decision to overturn the denial.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of a left shoulder disability and a cervical spine disability due to new examinations being warranted given the Veteran's ongoing symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and left shoulder disabilities due to unclear records of inpatient care, lack of a VA examination, and outstanding private medical treatment records. The Veteran is also asked to provide releases for relevant records from Dr. T.W.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations. The issues include psychiatric disorders, kidney conditions, headaches, dermatitis, musculoskeletal conditions of the left shoulder, lumbar spine, knees, and feet.

The Veteran's painful scars, left inguinal hernia, left breast surgical scars, and left shoulder surgical scars were granted a 30 percent rating effective May 10, 2017. Prior to this date, the scars had been rated at 10 percent.

The Board has found that another remand is warranted due to the Veteran's failure to attend scheduled VA examinations. The claims for service connection are being returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is being remanded for additional examination and consideration of new lay statements.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted with an effective date of July 24, 2017.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including considering his lay statements about in-service injuries. The case will be returned for further review.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, and right bicep muscle disorder due to the lack of objective medical evidence indicating current disabilities associated with these conditions were incurred in or caused by service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than March 6, 2018, for the grants of service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis (left shoulder disability), a lumbar strain, and PTSD have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, left shoulder disabilities, and lumbar strain have been remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for his right shoulder condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Specifically, efforts should be made to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors related to PTSD, confirm the existence of service treatment records (STRs) regarding his right knee injury, and obtain updated medical opinions on these issues.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee strain, limited flexion of the right knee, IVDS in the lumbar spine, and right shoulder strain. The case will be returned to the RO for readjudication based on all relevant evidence received since the March 2021 Board hearing.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination and retroactive opinion to assess the severity of the Veteran's right shoulder disability during the period from December 10, 2017, to August 14, 2019. The issues remain on appeal as the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected left shoulder disability was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.,The claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened based on new and material evidence. The Board finds that the Veteran's headache disability is at least as likely as not related to his military service.,The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis was remanded.,The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was remanded.,The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disability was remanded.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) is remanded.,Service connection for a sleep disorder, to include sleep apnea, is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine. The claims for residuals of a trapezius muscle injury, right-shoulder degenerative joint disease, and left-eye retinopathy are remanded due to outstanding records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for cervical strain and in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings on his left shoulder and knee disabilities have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of higher initial ratings for limitation of flexion, extension, and instability of the left knee.