Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, left shoulder condition, and hallux valgus deformity of the right foot are not related to service. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the cause and aggravation of the Veteran's right shoulder degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been withdrawn, and the cases are dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability and erectile dysfunction, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his active service or service-connected back disability. The Board also found insufficient medical evidence to determine if the Veteran's erectile dysfunction was due to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The July 2020 rating decision granted a TDIU, but did not result in any past-due benefits. The appeal is denied as the Appellant's services were provided before the date on which the Veteran was notified of the initial decision.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of November 5, 2012 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran was found to be precluded from gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities starting from that date.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted service connection. The Veteran's request for an increased rating for his right wrist ganglion cyst removal and a compensable rating for his right wrist scar are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied service connection for various shoulder, knee, ankle, and plantar fasciitis disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing current diagnoses or functional impairment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of fracture, right scapula and malunion or nonunion of the clavicle or scapula have been denied. The current manifestations do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for bilateral pes planus, respiratory disability (undiagnosed illness), left shoulder disability (undiagnosed illness), right shoulder disability (undiagnosed illness), sleep apnea, and cephalgia (undiagnosed illness) are remanded due to incomplete service records and the need for a VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability did not begin during service and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. As such, the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder and neck disorders due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding continuity of symptomatology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a left shoulder disability and TDIU prior to September 24, 2011. The evidence did not support that the Veteran's left shoulder disability was incurred in or caused by his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection to various disabilities have been reopened due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The effective dates are not yet determined as they will be based on the PACT Act, which does not allow earlier effective dates.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that his current conditions are related to injuries sustained during military service. The appeal is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The claims will be returned for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims for various conditions, including vertigo, left and right shoulder disabilities, bilateral ankle disabilities, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity disabilities due to a 2017 fall.