Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause intermittent inability to dress or undress herself, an inability to keep herself ordinarily clean and presentable, and an inability to feed herself through loss of coordination and weakness of the upper extremities. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spondylosis with degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome is denied. The Board also remanded the issue of individual unemployability prior to May 25, 2018 on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder and left hand disabilities are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of chronic symptoms during or immediately after service. The Board finds the Veteran's assertions regarding in-service injuries are not credible due to inconsistencies with contemporaneous medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand directives and additional development is necessary. The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including atraumatic multidirectional subluxation of the right shoulder and sprain of the right shoulder cuff capsule, is being reviewed for service connection.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and vacated the remand decision.

The Board denied service connection for neck, left shoulder, right shoulder, left foot, and right foot disabilities. Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,Service connection was not granted for the claimed conditions due to lack of evidence showing a current disability related to service.

Service connection is granted for left shoulder disorder, peripheral enthesopathy, and lumbar spine disorder. The Veteran's claims of polyuria and skin condition (claimed as acne) are remanded for additional development. TDIU is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder condition and neck condition due to insufficient information from VA medical records. The Veteran is advised to provide any additional relevant records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining his complete service treatment records, including his separation examination and reserve service records. The VA is required to attempt to obtain these records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause an impairment in his ability to obtain, maintain, or retain suitable employment. The Board found that the Veteran did not have an employment handicap and was therefore not entitled to VR&E services.

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including a paralyzed nerve, bilateral eye disability, genital warts, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and left shoulder disability. The evidence does not support the Veteran's claims of in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, diagnosed as right shoulder degenerative arthritis and right shoulder strain, finding that it had its onset within a year of his discharge from service.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to inadequate examinations and the need for additional medical opinions, including those related to valvular heart disease, keratoconjunctivitis, upper extremity radiculopathy, shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, a skin condition, shin splints, knee meniscal tear, muscle/tendon strain of the lower leg, and sleep disturbances.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 15, 2019.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right shoulder arthroscopy scars do not warrant a compensable rating. The left ankle disability claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran withdrew her claims for various service-connected conditions, including internal/external hemorrhoids, Crohn's disease, Avitaminosis (claimed as vitamin D deficiency), TIA with residual deficits, left shoulder bursitis, trigger points left trapezius, iron deficiency, and chronic sinusitis. As a result, the appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left shoulder arthritis is dismissed as there was no appeal of the January 2020 rating decision.,A higher initial rating of 20 percent for residuals of dislocation of the right shoulder with mild traumatic arthritis has been granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a back disability, initial increased ratings for left shoulder strain and left knee strain.