Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grant of a 20 percent rating for his left and right shoulder disabilities have been denied. The effective date is set at October 19, 2022.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of right shoulder strain, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder pain was denied in a June 2019 rating decision. The effective date of the award is set at May 12, 2021, as this is when the Veteran filed his first open and pending claim.

The Veteran's left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, heart disorder (abnormal heart palpitations), right shoulder disorder, and migraines are all granted as service-connected. The AOJ is required to obtain additional medical opinions for the heart disorder, right shoulder disorder, and migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology. The Veteran's lay statements will be considered in forming a medical opinion.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from February 19, 2020 to February 24, 2022 due to the combined rating of his service-connected disabilities meeting the schedular requirements for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The Board also requests an addendum opinion regarding the possibility of separate ratings for muscle disorders.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety, depression, headaches, a cervical spine disability, bilateral pes planus, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, frequent urination, and endometriosis claimed as irregular menstrual cycle.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, psychiatric disability other than unspecified anxiety disorder with unspecified neurocognitive disorder, and urination disability were denied. The claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for migraine headaches was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical nexus between the Veteran's current right shoulder disability and his active duty service. The VA examiner is requested to address the credibility of the Veteran's lay reports regarding continuous right shoulder symptoms since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a shoulder disorder, neck disorder, hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence showing in-service events or injuries.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased disability ratings due to insufficient evidence and further review is required.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, but denied housebound status and TBI-based SMC.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is now rated at 30 percent, effective October 28, 2020. Service connection for bilateral dry eye syndrome has been established.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will need to provide an examination for service connection of the right shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus grants his claim for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the VA examination obtained on remand is inadequate and that further examination is needed to determine the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability. Additionally, efforts should be made to obtain any missing relevant treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as a lumbar spine and cervical spine disability. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, including those related to left hip, left knee, right shoulder disabilities, and headaches. The AOJ is required to obtain additional development, such as SSA records and a medical opinion regarding the aggravation of headaches by her service-connected left shoulder disability.