Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis and total knee replacement, is due to his service-connected residuals of fracture, distal portion of the left tibia. The Board has granted entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right fifth distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) fusion with severe joint space narrowing of the right hand is granted as service connected. The Board finds all three elements of service connection are satisfied, including the in-service injury and continuity of symptomatology.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder labral tear, finding that the condition pre-existed the Veteran's final period of active duty and was not aggravated by it.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that there is no evidence showing any current left shoulder disability began during active service or is related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety condition is not service-connected as secondary to his thyroid condition. The right shoulder and hearing loss claims are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it manifested in service or within one year of separation, and there is no causal relationship between his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for reopening of service connection for right shoulder, lumbar spine, and right knee disabilities due to procedural errors in categorizing issues on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist. The AOJ will need to obtain additional evidence and provide a new or addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all service connection issues, including left leg neuropathy, right leg neuropathy, sinus, rhinitis, asthma, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, thyroids, PTSD, diabetes, heart, right hemiparesis, cervical, and other conditions. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for left shoulder, left knee, and left ankle disabilities are remanded due to procedural errors in the original decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure to adequately develop the record, specifically regarding the Veteran's reported motor vehicle accident while stationed at Fort Hood. The AOJ must verify this history and readjudicate the claims in light of all evidence.

The Board has dismissed the claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The claims for service connection related to tremors, lower back pain, left shoulder pain, and neck pain are remanded due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded all service connection claims due to a pre-decisional error in not considering direct service connection for the claimed conditions.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for a temporary total evaluation due to surgical treatment for left shoulder rotator cuff requiring convalescence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for spasmodic torticollis was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,Tinnitus, right shoulder disability, and low back disability have all reached their maximum schedular ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in duty to assist and inadequate opinions. The Veteran's disabilities are related to his military duties, but there is conflicting evidence regarding their onset.

The Board has remanded the claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation benefits due to changes in the Veteran's service connection claims, which were previously remanded. The AOJ will readjudicate these issues after additional development.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and tinnitus, finding no current disability during the appeal period. The Veteran's claim for liver damage was remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for liver damage was not granted as there was no daily symptoms or incapacitating episodes within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right shoulder disability have been denied. The Board found insufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship between the in-service events and the current disabilities.,No new or material evidence was presented, and no Persian Gulf War exposure basis was provided.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal conditions are granted. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea is denied.