Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and back disabilities. The Veteran's right leg disability was considered in conjunction with the back disability.,There is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after active duty that could be presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange or Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility awards are granted effective February 14, 2022. The VA has also awarded service connection for back and shoulder disabilities with initial ratings effective the same date.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right shoulder disorders due to a claims processing defect.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder condition, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a link between his claimed injury in service and any present condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic sinusitis was dismissed as moot because the claim had already been fully granted with an effective date of October 18, 2021. The claims for GERD and IBS were remanded due to a duty to assist error in scheduling VA examinations. The bilateral hip, ankle, wrist, and shoulder disabilities were also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine disability and left shoulder disability due to a duty to assist error. The VA examiner will be asked to provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to service or service-connected disabilities, including aggravation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and right shoulder strain conditions due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis, left elbow, right elbow, migraine headaches, lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities are all being remanded for further evaluation.,For the entire appeal period, the Veteran’s allergic rhinitis was not manifested by nasal polyps. His left elbow disability did not more nearly approximate flexion limited to 90 degrees, while his right elbow disability did not more nearly approximate flexion limited to 90 degrees.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, shoulder, knee, and neurological disorders. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to his military service.,There is no medical evidence linking any of the claimed disabilities to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to December 6, 2012 due to insufficient evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his lumbosacral spine disability and TDIU prior to April 25, 2017 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right and left shoulder disabilities due to additional evidence received after the initial decision. The case will be returned to the AOJ for review of this new evidence.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his left shoulder, right shoulder (prior to June 13, 2017), thoracolumbar spine, and left Achilles tendonitis disabilities are denied. The right shoulder disability from June 13, 2017 onwards is not granted as the rating criteria do not meet the required standards for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for rhinitis must be readjudicated, as no new and relevant evidence has been submitted since the previous denial in November 2020. The remaining claims of service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome of the cervical spine with degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis, left shoulder impingement syndrome, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, right shoulder, left shoulder, and neck conditions due to a lack of VA examinations addressing these conditions. The Veteran contends his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for acquired psychiatric disorder, right shoulder disability, and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder strain and left wrist strain, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative arthritis has been rated at 20 percent since December 10, 2016. The appeal is denied as the current disability does not warrant a higher rating.