Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability and left ankle deltoid ligament sprain, finding that his symptoms began in service and have persisted.,The Board also granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee pain as secondary to his service-connected left ankle deltoid ligament sprain.

The Veteran's left shoulder condition is rated at 20 percent, but no greater. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the service-connected left shoulder condition has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left shoulder disability, requiring further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder strain, finding that the Veteran's continuous right shoulder pain symptoms since separation from active duty service are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disability during service or within one year after discharge. The Board also found insufficient medical evidence to support a claim based on aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids and denied service connection for left shoulder disability. The claim of service connection for low back disability is remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding multiple knee and hip conditions, as well as a shoulder pain condition and back condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and right shoulder disability due to predecisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran's treatment records from private providers have not been obtained.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, and right knee disability. The claims are being remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted service connection. His right shoulder disability, with recurrent dislocation and limitation of motion, is granted a separate 20 percent rating. The claims for bilateral feet, hands, wrists, and knees are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for his right shoulder disability, finding that no increase in disability was factually ascertainable within one year prior to the date of receipt of his April 22, 2022 claim.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for left ankle condition and right shoulder condition due to a failure to provide adequate notice regarding scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining private medical records and requesting addendum opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, radiculopathy affecting both lower extremities, bilateral plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, pseudo folliculitis, ankle disorders, shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, jock itch, adjustment disorder with anxiety, acid reflux, athlete's foot and toenail fungus, and epiphora. The Board found no current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including traumatic brain injury, vertigo, shoulder disabilities, elbow and wrist disabilities, hand disabilities, hip disability, ankle disabilities, respiratory breathing problems, frontal sinusitis, and rhinitis are denied. The Board notes that the Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to fine particulate matter during his service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War.,Service connection for frontal sinusitis and rhinitis is granted based on presumptive exposure to fine particulate matter due to service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine, shoulder, elbow, and knee disorders due to a lack of VA examinations and conflicting opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant was denied as none of his service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for such benefits. The appeal for an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment only was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder and right ankle conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in rating or service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are not compensable due to less frequent attacks. Service connection for adjustment disorder is granted, with the death of a friend during service being considered as causative.,Service connection for chronic adjustment disorder is granted based on evidence that the death of a friend caused symptoms. No current disability for sleep apnea has been established, and no VA examination was provided to determine this condition.,The Veteran's bilateral shoulder strain, ankle strain, erectile dysfunction, and groin pain are remanded as there were no medical opinions regarding their etiology or nature.,Service connection for left shoulder strain is remanded due to lack of a nexus opinion from the May 2022 VA examination.,Service connection for right shoulder strain is remanded due to lack of a nexus opinion from the May 2022 VA examination.,Service connection for bilateral ankle strain is remanded due to lack of a nexus opinion from the May 2022 VA examination.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction and groin pain are remanded due to lack of a nexus opinion from the May 2022 VA examination.