Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran was on Active Duty Training (ACDUTRA) or Inactive Duty Training (IDT) during the period when he reported back pain issues. The AOJ is instructed to verify this information and determine if it affects the service connection decisions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disorder, headache disorder, and right shoulder disorder due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms will be considered.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than April 30, 2007 for the award of service connection for right shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis was denied.,The Board has also remanded several issues related to rating higher than 20 percent from specific dates for right shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities, not a single disability, prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 100% prior to June 23, 2021. SMC based on housebound status is granted due to the combination of his 100% service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and other disabilities rated at least 60%. TDIU is dismissed as moot with the grant of a 100% disability rating for unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board has found pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remanded the case for a new examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's right shoulder disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for all issues related to service connection, as the Veteran did not timely file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) or use the proper form for her claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right shoulder strain with impingement syndrome, lumbosacral strain, De Quervain's tenosynovitis with left wrist strain, and left quadricep strain have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for bilateral knee, left ankle, and cervical strain are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral foot condition, left shoulder dislocation, and GERD due to a duty to assist error in obtaining adequate VA medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee and shoulder conditions are not related to his active service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection on all six claimed conditions before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for left shoulder strain is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and testing.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent effective August 17, 2018. Service connection for hypertension, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, right foot disability, left foot disability, and right shoulder disability are denied. TDIU is granted effective July 30, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of consideration of functional impairment and duty to assist issues.

The Board has denied service connection for joint pain condition and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, and athlete's foot due to missing service treatment records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for shoulder strain (claimed as left shoulder pain) and cervical strain (claimed as muscle spasm of neck and upper back), finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury and PTSD, have resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board finds it at least as likely as not that the Veteran is in need of such assistance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for right Achilles tendonitis and left shoulder osteoarthritis (claimed as a left arm or shoulder disorder) due to lack of current diagnosis, no evidence of in-service injury or event related to the conditions, and no nexus between the conditions and active service.,VA examinations found that the Veteran's right Achilles pain was attributed to tibiotalar arthritis and his left shoulder complaints were diagnosed as osteoarthrosis. The Board determined these diagnoses did not meet the criteria for service connection under the provisions relating to undiagnosed illness or Multisymptom Illness (MUCMI).

The appeal concerning the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist and left shoulder condition has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death before the appeal was pending.