Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's right wrist tendonitis and right shoulder strain (dominant) have been granted a disability rating of 20 percent each, while the right knee condition has not met the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right chronic wrist sprain, left shoulder calcified tendonitis, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and both upper extremity radiculopathies. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder condition, and a VA examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various orthopedic conditions, including right shoulder osteoarthritis with impingement syndrome, left knee and hip chondromalacia, left ankle tendonitis, major depressive disorder, bilateral stress fractures, and a residual fracture of the right middle finger have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for awards related to housebound status, Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35, and Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) have also been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board has remanded the lumbosacral condition, pinguecula, bilateral dry eye syndrome, right ankle condition, and right shoulder injury claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection and TDIU due to lack of evidence showing he became unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment within a year prior to his July 2020 filing.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities remain at 20 percent each. Other conditions have been addressed or denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to toxic substances during service and the relationship between his current disabilities and such exposures.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, migraines, and residuals of TBI are granted. However, the Veteran's claim for increased rating for residuals of TBI is remanded due to insufficient detail in the VA examination.

The Veteran's combined rating for the appeal period prior to April 16, 2023 is granted at a maximum of 100 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a traumatic brain injury, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability due to the lack of evidence showing current disabilities or a nexus between these conditions and service.,No VA medical examination was provided as required by law.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including rotator cuff tendonitis, labral tear, post-traumatic arthritis, subscapularis tendinosis, and adhesive capsulitis, was rated at 40 percent effective February 21, 2024. The issue of a TDIU is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, right leg disability, left leg disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right shoulder disorders due to inadequate VA medical opinion addressing the service connection claims on appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder blade disability, sinusitis, depression (separate from generalized anxiety disorder), insomnia (separate from generalized anxiety disorder), and collar bone disability due to a lack of current diagnoses in the medical records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of left testicular strain, neuralgia/ neuritis of left upper extremity, neuralgia/ neuritis of right upper extremity, left shoulder tendinitis, and lower back pain. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and hip disabilities as secondary to his service-connected left and right lower extremity sciatica due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is remanded and requires an addendum opinion to address all mentions of the condition in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to obtain relevant medical records and provide the Veteran with an opportunity for a VA examination.