Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including high cholesterol, snoring, fatigue, insomnia, hearing loss, chronic left hip pain, and cerumen impaction (claimed as chronic ear infection), have been denied. The Board has also remanded several other issues related to knee conditions, shoulder conditions, migraine headaches, and overactive bladder.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain and lumbosacral strain are not service-connected, but his allergic rhinitis is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent for limitation of motion, and a separate rating of 20 percent for recurrent dislocation of the scapulohumeral joint with frequent episodes and guarding of all arm movements. The Board denied an increased rating more than 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right shoulder conditions due to incomplete records, inadequate VA opinions, and potential toxic exposure risk activities at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran did not have such a condition during or within one year after service separation and there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various psychiatric, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular disabilities that he contends began during active service.

The Veteran's claims for allergic rhinitis, left hand scar, and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied. The right foot disability (plantar fasciitis) and right shoulder disability claims are remanded for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of residuals of left ankle injury and residuals of left shoulder rotator cuff injury due to insufficient medical opinions addressing continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his active service, and the Board denied this claim.,The Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during his active service or within one year of separation, and the Board denied this claim.,The Veteran's sleep disability - OSA was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, and the Board denied this claim.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability is related to his active service, and the Board granted this claim.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to his active service, and the Board granted this claim.,The Veteran's headaches are related to his active service, and the Board granted this claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of statutory or regulatory authority, and the AOJ correctly started payment in October 2021.

The Veteran's hypertension, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, obstructive sleep apnea, and tinnitus are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on their onset during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU prior to August 28, 2013 and from August 28, 2013 and prior to November 26, 2019. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a schedular or extraschedular TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for acromioclavicular joint arthritis of the right shoulder, left shoulder, and degenerative arthritis and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine. The claims were readjudicated due to new evidence received since a previous denial.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, hypertension (pursuant to the PACT Act), emphysema with endobronchial valve in left lung, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder condition with degenerative arthritis, a left shoulder condition with degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral disability (lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease), and a left knee condition are granted.,The Veteran's service connection claims for emphysema with endobronchial valve in left lung, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder condition with degenerative arthritis, a left shoulder condition with degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral disability (lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease), and a left knee condition are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to January 15, 2020 for the grant of increased disability ratings were denied.,The Board found that the earliest date entitlement arose was January 15, 2020, and thus the effective dates established by the April 2020 rating decision are correct.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The effective date of the 70% rating for persistent depressive disorder was granted.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition, including rotator cuff tendonitis and strain, as well as shoulder impingement syndrome, is considered to have developed during active service and continues to the present day. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him permanently housebound or in need of regular aid and assistance.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as of June 14, 2016, due to his service-connected psychiatric disorder and left shoulder disability. The effective date for the grant of a TDIU is based on the receipt of a claim for service connection for a psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her conditions, specifically related to periods of active duty and reserve service.