Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, including parachute jumps.

The Veteran was granted TDIU effective June 1, 2019. The Board finds that the AOJ failed to consider her specific job requirements and limitations caused by service-connected disabilities prior to May 1, 2019. Therefore, a remand is necessary for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and as a result, the Board dismissed the issues regarding cervical spine disability and right shoulder disability with numbness in the right arm.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including bilateral vision loss, hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, tinnitus, right neck lesion, shoulder disabilities, carpal tunnel syndrome and wrist pain, lumbar spine disability, colon disability with associated abdominal scar, and foot disabilities. The reasons given include lack of evidence showing the conditions were present during or within one year after service, no credible link to service, and failure to show continuity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination findings and need for further medical evaluation.

The Board has denied an increased rating for bilateral pes planus and remanded the issues of service connection for left foot, right foot, sleep apnea, left hip, right hip, tooth condition, and left shoulder conditions.,Additional examinations are needed to address pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the claims for service connection for left foot, right foot, and left shoulder conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left shoulder likely began during his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for left shoulder degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative arthritis, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for left shoulder degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative arthritis, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's latent tuberculosis had its onset during his period of active service, and a new VA examination is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical and left shoulder conditions due to a duty to assist error. The VA must obtain medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted, effective from August 12, 2022 to August 22, 2023. The effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance is also granted as of August 12, 2022. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hypertension remains denied.

The Veteran was found to be precluded from securing and following substantially gainful employment due to service-connected PTSD since March 16, 2021. The Board granted an effective date of March 17, 2021 for the TDIU award.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and psychiatric disorders, cervical spine disorder, back disorder, elbow disorders, wrist disorders, shoulder disorders, hip disorders, ankle disorders, and foot disorders. The decision was based on the lack of evidence showing a direct link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder rotator cuff disability is related to his service duties as a motor transport operator during his deployment in Iraq, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a right rib fracture and dermatophytosis (claimed as eczema) have been granted. Claims for hyperlipidemia, elevated liver enzymes, posttraumatic stress disorder, alopecia totalis, iliotibial band syndrome of the left knee, cervical spine disability, voiding dysfunction, benign neoplasm of the skin, right ankle disability, right elbow disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability have been denied. The Veteran's claims for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity secondary to service-connected spinal stenosis are remanded.

The Board has revised the October 2015 rating decision to grant a 30 percent evaluation for left shoulder disability, effective June 24, 2011, based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and lumbar degenerative disc disease, as well as left and right shoulder disabilities manifested by pain, popping, and limitation of motion. Service connection for a right knee disability is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the VA examinations and concerns about functional ankylosis. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated based on its current severity.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome was granted service connection effective January 6, 2021. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ankle, shoulder, and knee disabilities as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain.