Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee strains, as well as left and right shoulder strain and labral tear. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service complaints of knee and shoulder pain during physical readiness training.,Reasoning: The evidence shows that the Veteran reported knee and shoulder pain during his military service, which led to diagnoses such as knee strain and shoulder impingement.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities have been denied. The right hip condition claim has been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right and left shoulder conditions, did not meet the criteria for service connection due to a lack of current disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD is granted as it is considered to be proximately due to his service-connected sarcoidosis. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, fibromyalgia, and left shoulder strain are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, bilateral foot plantar fasciitis (claimed as bilateral foot condition), bilateral shin splints, right leg shin splints, and left leg shin splints due to pre-decisional errors in obtaining clinical records and VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The appeals are granted in part, with some issues remaining pending further development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder, GERD, IBS, rhinitis, sinusitis, dry skin/scars, a bilateral breast condition, pulled groin, vaginitis, irregular menstruation, cervical spine condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, lower extremity nerve damage, ankle strain or Achilles conditions, and foot plantar fasciitis. The effective date for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder is denied prior to December 1, 2021.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is etiologically related to service and is secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder, lumbosacral strain, bilateral knee degenerative joint disease patellofemoral syndrome, right shoulder sprain, plantar fascitis, pes planus, and hallux valgus with degenerative changes.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of migraines, neck condition, left shoulder condition, or right shoulder condition.,Therefore, the Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including left hip, right hip, left shoulder, and right shoulder conditions, as well as COPD and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not show a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has determined that there are errors in the decision-making process and requires additional evidence to be obtained before a final determination can be made regarding the Veteran's right shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and headaches have been denied. The claim for hypertension is remanded due to the failure to review relevant VA treatment records.,Service connection has not been established for a lumbar spine disability.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claims are remanded for further development regarding cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities.,Service connection is not granted for the Veteran's claimed bilateral shoulder disability, right ear hearing loss, or left ear hearing loss due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50% effective from the date of the decision, and his left shoulder strain remains at 20%. Service connection for back condition, right shin splints, and left shin splints are granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal. The claims for service connection and increased ratings are not before the Board.

The Veteran's service connection claims for low back disability and right shoulder disability have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development.,New evidence has been submitted that suggests current diagnoses of low back disability and right shoulder disability, but these need to be confirmed by VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches on the basis that a preexisting disability was aggravated by active military service. The claims for left arm pain, right arm pain, right shoulder pain, and right hip pain are denied as there is no evidence of in-service onset or relationship to service. Service connection for paranoid schizophrenia is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder cuff arthropathy, status post right shoulder surgery, osteoarthritis of right glenohumeral, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his active service.

The Veteran is seeking an effective date prior to February 1, 2021, for the award of service connection for right shoulder replacement residuals. The Board has identified a pre-decisional error in not requesting VA and private treatment records related to the right total shoulder replacement procedure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected right shoulder acromioclavicular joint separation and residuals, fracture of 1st proximal lateral sesamoid, right foot require additional development due to inadequate VA examinations.