Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for a bullet wound, nerve damage secondary to a bullet wound, and right shoulder strain disability have all been denied.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral shoulder impingement syndrome has been rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is not higher based on the evidence of record.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the cause of death and DIC claim. The AOJ is required to obtain new VA medical opinions addressing whether service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's death, as well as any negligence in reducing his pain medication.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's right shoulder disability, left rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative arthritis, and fracture of the fifth metatarsal of the right foot are all being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for service connection and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's OSA and his service-connected conditions, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the previous rating decisions. The issues of headaches, left shoulder disorder, left wrist disorder, and right wrist disorder will be reconsidered with new evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's SMC at the housebound rate from January 1, 2022, is denied because he did not have a single service-connected disability rated as total and an additional disability or disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or greater during that period.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip bursitis, left hip bursitis, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, and lumbosacral strain with IVDS.,Service connection is established for all claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for a sebaceous cyst, neck is dismissed as the proper claims processing rules have not been followed.,New and relevant evidence has been received to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right forearm condition. The Board will now readjudicate this issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 24, 2020. As of April 24, 2020, the criteria for a TDIU were met.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a skin condition, GERD, OSA, and PVD of the lower extremities and shoulders. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing these conditions had their onset during active service or were related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety, and PTSD), plantar fasciitis left lower extremity, plantar fasciitis right lower extremity, and left shoulder disability due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's TDIU and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) are granted effective October 1, 2020. The Veteran has a permanent, total service-connected disability due to his right shoulder and back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for right shoulder strain and cervical spine strain due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned to the AOJ for further consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of torn rotator cuff in either shoulder, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left eye disability, left shoulder disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient development of evidence. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for his osteochondroma, left shoulder and rotator cuff tear status-post repair residuals was granted. The Board assigned a 50 percent disability rating based on nonunion of the humerus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis, a left shoulder disability, and a left lower extremity disability due to lack of current diagnoses.