Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a mental disorder and joint pain in multiple body parts. The evidence did not support current diagnoses or show that these conditions had their onset during service.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to service connection and increased disability ratings, including those for PTSD, right shoulder strain, right ankle tendinosis, facial scarring due to PFB, eczema, bilateral hearing loss, chronic left wrist disability, left ankle sprain, and bilateral eye conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left hip, left shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected. The claims for psychiatric disability, right shoulder, left wrist, and low back disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions on direct and secondary service connection for a right shoulder disability. The Veteran contends that his right shoulder disability is related to a motor vehicle accident during service, which caused his left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of current medical treatment records and for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder is not service-connected as it did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty.,There is no competent and credible evidence establishing that the Veteran currently suffers from a right leg impairment, other than radiculopathy, to include as secondary to a back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder disability, including glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis due to inadequate medical opinions provided in the previous decision. The case is now pending for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The appellant's right shoulder and hip disabilities may be related to her Reserve service, but more evidence is needed. Her sleep apnea claim includes PTSD as a contributing factor. Heart disability diagnoses are unclear, and further examination is required.

The Board has dismissed the appellant's appeals for service connection on all nine issues due to her AMA opt-in from the August 2024 SSOC.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and etiology opinions provided prior to the rating decision on appeal were inadequate, as they did not adequately address all the claims and theories of entitlement reasonably raised by the evidence of record. The issues are therefore being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder disability is secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability. The claim will be reconsidered with a new opinion on aggravation.

The Board has decided to remand three issues related to tinnitus and right shoulder arthritis, including the effective dates for service connection and an initial rating. The Veteran's attorney argues that VA failed to provide an informal conference before making these decisions.

The Veteran's ratings for cervical strain, left shoulder impingement syndrome, and lumbosacral strain were reduced from their previous levels due to improvement in the disability. The appeal is denied as these reductions are proper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including a collar bone fracture, is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including a collar bone fracture, is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, and will consider each issue individually.

The Board denied service connection for hip problems and left shoulder condition as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service injuries that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as secondary to her service-connected multiple sclerosis.,Her depression appeal is dismissed due to it being a symptom of her already service-connected neurocognitive disorder.,Tinnitus was denied as there is no current diagnosis and the Veteran did not report any during active duty.,Bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of qualifying hearing loss for VA purposes.,High blood pressure, spinal fluid leak, left wrist pain, right wrist pain, back pain, and neck pain were all denied due to lack of a nexus to service.,Left shoulder pain and right shoulder pain were also denied without a clear link to service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected right shoulder labrum repair scar is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination provided.