Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current right ear or left ear hearing loss to a level recognized as a ratable disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection and increased ratings, effectively dismissing the appeal.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder strain and right knee strain with osteoarthritis, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient examination opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, which are secondary to his service-connected conditions.

Service connection is granted for neck condition, right shoulder condition, headaches secondary to service-connected neck condition, and hypertension secondary to service-connected neck condition. Service connection for rapid heartbeat and left hip sciatic nerve condition secondary to service-connected neck condition is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease, upper back arthritis, lower back arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, and left shoulder arthritis are remanded due to the need for a TERA examination and opinion under the PACT Act.

The Board has granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the left and right shoulders as well as knees, finding that the Veteran's condition is at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service connection claims for cervicalgia, left shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and right shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis are remanded due to a duty to assist error in obtaining his service treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, left shoulder strain, and tinnitus have been granted. However, the claims for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are being remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current right shoulder condition and his in-service injury. The Veteran contends that he incurred a right shoulder dislocation during service, which resulted in ongoing pain and instability.

The Board has granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the left and right shoulders as well as knees, finding that the Veteran's condition is at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability, diagnosed as acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and right shoulder impingement, is related to his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in August 2021. The Board found that the Veteran's reports regarding an injury during ACDUTRA are supported by service department records and consistent with his duties as a reservist. Therefore, the Board granted service connection for the right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder disability due to insufficient examination findings and lack of retrospective opinions regarding functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in failing to obtain private treatment records from Blessing Hospital and Blessing Physician Services Behavioral Health. The issues include right hand neuropathy, borderline personality disorder, IBS with GERD, right shoulder osteoarthritis, hypertension, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine; left hip condition; right hip condition; left knee pain; right knee pain; and left shoulder condition due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left shoulder strain due to a lack of an adequate nexus opinion. The Veteran's representative raised additional arguments after the March 2023 rating decision, which will be considered by the AOJ in the readjudication.

The Board has determined that the VA's duty to assist claimants in obtaining relevant records was not met prior to the August 2022 decision on appeal. The claims for increased ratings are being remanded to allow for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, right hand, and right knee disabilities were denied in an April 2022 rating decision. New evidence was submitted including medical records from June 2022, which led to readjudication of the claims.,Service connection is granted for all four conditions: left shoulder disability, right hand disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected conditions, including major depressive disorder and other disabilities, did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.