Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the effective date for the award of service connection for PFB was denied.

The Board has determined that the April 2021 decision denying service connection for right and left shoulder disorders is flawed due to a failure to provide an adequate medical opinion. The claims are being remanded to obtain such an opinion.

The Board has determined that new evidence has been received to support the previously denied claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a right shoulder condition, bilateral open angle glaucoma with cataract (claimed as bilateral eye condition), and bilateral leg varicose veins. As such, these claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities because no new and relevant evidence was received to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to various disabilities, including GERD and several musculoskeletal conditions. The initial rating for GERD was denied due to the lack of symptoms meeting a higher rating criteria. Other claims are remanded as there is insufficient information regarding the Veteran's service-connected periods.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for all other claimed disabilities. The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed related to his military service due to in-service noise exposure. However, the low back disability and other conditions are not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is due to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, a lumbar spine disability, a left shoulder disability, a cervical spine disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. Obesity was a substantial factor in causing the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder strain and left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis as secondary to his service-connected AC joint osteoarthritis, right shoulder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder condition existed prior to his entry into active service and was aggravated by his military service, thus granting entitlement to service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the claims of entitlement to initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for a left shoulder disability, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a cervical spine disability, and TDIU.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for which service connection can be granted, including headaches, residuals of a fractured left thumb, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and various hip and back conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine if there is any link between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's heart disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability on a direct basis. The decision is based on credible lay evidence of onset in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete records. The Veteran is entitled to additional etiology opinions on his acquired psychiatric, respiratory, cardiac, vestibular, hearing loss/tinnitus, and orthopedic disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been denied. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and a low back disability.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence of a current diagnosable psychiatric disability or left/right knee disabilities related to active service.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected peripheral neuropathy disabilities, which have rendered him wheelchair dependent and unable to perform daily tasks.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disability due to lack of qualifying active military service, and thus, veteran status.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left shoulder disabilities were granted with an effective date of May 5, 2021. The claim for erectile dysfunction was denied.,An increased rating for the psychiatric/TBI disabilities was granted starting from November 4, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection of his left knee, right shoulder, and right foot disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, right knee, and ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions originated during or were otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities are granted as service-connected. The claims for left knee, right knee, and right wrist conditions are remanded.