Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's GERD has been granted a 30 percent rating. The right shoulder and bilateral lower extremities conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder strain is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a left shoulder disability, and the Board dismissed it.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left shoulder disability is granted. The Veteran's increased rating claim for his left knee disability is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder, glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral spine disabilities including intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease. The Board found no medical evidence linking the Veteran's diagnosed conditions to his service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were previously decided in a September 2021 rating decision, appealed to the Board in November 2021, and adjudicated by the Board in an October 29, 2024, decision. The appeal of these issues is dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability (degenerative arthritis of the spine), right knee condition, right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, and left shoulder disability are denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating under Diagnostic Code 8510. The Board finds no evidence of severe incomplete paralysis in the upper radicular group of the right upper extremity and thus denies a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right ear hearing loss, bilateral elbow, hand, knee, and shoulder disabilities, hemorrhoids, neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and thoracic aortic aneurysm. The appeals are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's ratings for right and left shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in the initial rating decisions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error and requires an addendum VA opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to readjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder condition and lumbosacral condition. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, right upper extremity neurologic disorder other than right middle finger surgical neuropathy, left knee, and sleep apnea disorders have all been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year post-service.,Service connection was granted for a right middle finger surgical neuropathy disability.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his service-connected right shoulder and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any complaints or diagnoses related to her claimed hip, shoulder, knee, and ankle disabilities. She reported symptoms after service but no medical evaluations were provided.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of July 24, 2013 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities precluding the Veteran from securing and following gainful employment since that date.

The Board has found that the appellant does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including for heart conditions, acquired psychiatric disorders (anxiety and depression), hypertension, cervical spine condition, bilateral shoulder conditions, elbow conditions, wrist conditions, hip conditions, knee conditions, ankle conditions, or foot conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain appropriate medical examinations and opinions.,The Board has found that the appellant does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including for heart conditions, acquired psychiatric disorders (anxiety and depression), hypertension, cervical spine condition, bilateral shoulder conditions, elbow conditions, wrist conditions, hip conditions, knee conditions, ankle conditions, or foot conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain appropriate medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left elbow disabilities, as well as right and left shoulder disabilities, must be remanded due to duty-to-assist errors prior to the August 2021 rating decision. The AOJ will need to provide opinions addressing all theories of entitlement, including those related to in-service injuries and secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine, right shoulder, lumbar spine, bilateral hip, right knee, left foot, and right foot disabilities. The evidence did not establish a clear and unmistakable error in the finding of current diagnoses or show a causal relationship to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted a 60% evaluation, effective from the date of claim. The right shoulder disability remains at 20%. Other claims for service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's disability ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right shoulder impingement syndrome with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and limited extension of the left knee have been restored to their original levels effective June 1, 2021.,The restoration of ratings is granted for all three conditions.