Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection must be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. Specifically, VA did not attempt to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records and Georgia disability records which are potentially relevant to the claims.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current audiometric test results.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as he was employed full-time prior to June 8, 2020. The Board finds that TDIU is not warranted based on the single service-connected disability of his back condition.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of January 11, 2021 for the grant of service connection for various disabilities including an acquired psychiatric disorder and multiple musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including unspecified depressive disorder, headaches, left shoulder tendonitis and impingement, and tinnitus, may have prevented him from maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to July 12, 2021. The Board finds that referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration is warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD, left hand and right hand carpal and cubital tunnel syndromes, left knee meniscal tear, right knee meniscal tear, left shoulder pain, right shoulder pain, left foot pain, right foot pain, migraines, and lumbosacral strain are all granted service connection.,The Veteran's PTSD is related to her military service. The carpal and cubital tunnel syndromes, as well as the knee meniscal tears, shoulder pain, and foot pain are all linked to her service.

The Board has found pre-decisional duty to assist errors in obtaining military personnel and service treatment records from the Veteran's Reserve service, confirming his periods of active-duty, ADT, IDT, and Reserve service, and obtaining SSA records. These claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has found that the VA examinations and medical opinions are inadequate, and thus remanding all claims for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and right shoulder disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset during service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for greater ratings of right shoulder arthritis and left shoulder scar disabilities as the appellant requested withdrawal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, cervical spine disorder, headaches, and multiple musculoskeletal disorders have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn, and the Board has dismissed these issues due to withdrawal. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain and denied service connection for hypertension, OSA, cervical spine arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, and lumbar spine arthritis. The Veteran's right knee strain is found to be related to his in-service symptoms and post-service treatment. However, the Board determined that there was no nexus between the current diagnosis of hypertension and the elevated blood pressure readings during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to inadequate examinations and pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The cases will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left shoulder AC joint separation with traumatic arthritis and painful scars, status post left shoulder surgery was denied. The current ratings of 20 percent are not sufficient to reflect the severity of the disabilities.,There is no indication that the Veteran's service-connected conditions were related to any specific exposure basis such as burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, or Gulf War.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and bilateral foot disabilities, finding the evidence insufficient to establish in-service injury or causation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a special home adaptation grant due to lack of blindness in both eyes, burns or inhalation injuries.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the claim of chronic fatigue syndrome due to exposure to burn pits during service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left foot, right foot, left knee, right knee, left shoulder, and lumbar conditions due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability due to lack of current diagnosis.,All other claims on appeal are remanded as there is a duty to assist error in obtaining opinions prior to the May 2019 rating decision.