Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of his acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee tendinitis with degenerative arthritis, and other conditions has been withdrawn. The VA is remanding the claims for service connection for various conditions due to toxic exposure risk activity (TERA).,The VA is remanding the claims for service connection for a back condition, headaches, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, bilateral leg condition, functional dysphagia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and penile conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses in the medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left and right shoulder injuries due to insufficient information regarding his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). Additionally, there are outstanding treatment records that need to be obtained. The VA examiner will provide a new opinion on whether the Veteran's shoulder conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, migraines including migraine variants, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability are all granted as service connected.,Reasoning for the cervical spine disability: The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability had onset in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to incomplete STRs and inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for musculoskeletal conditions, sinusitis, bladder condition, erectile dysfunction, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia due to pre-existing duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PFB, left shoulder acromioclavicular osteoarthritis, and right ankle sprain are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions considering all evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected seizure disability and bilateral shoulder disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since March 1996. The Board has granted an effective date of June 15, 2015 for the assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new opinion on whether his right shoulder disability is secondary to his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia, status post Nissan fundoplication and severe abdominal cramping. The rating for his gastroesophageal reflux disease will also be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various psoriatic arthritis disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional verification of his National Guard and Air Force Reserve service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for residual surgery scars of the back, left shoulder, and right shoulder is denied as there are no other disabling effects not considered in a rating provided under Diagnostic Codes 7800-04.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder condition, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disorder, radiculopathy of the left arm, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, sleep apnea, and right hip disorder are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.,Specifically, a VA examination is needed for each of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The claims for service connection of unspecified depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD are remanded as the VA examination opinions were inadequate. Other claims for service connection are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the VA examination opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left shoulder conditions, all of which are related to her military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was granted a 30% rating from September 18, 2019, to April 6, 2021. Prior to this period, the claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, right ankle degenerative arthritis, left ankle sprain, and left shoulder disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, IBS, bilateral hip strain, bilateral ankle disability, right shoulder condition, acid reflux with nausea, rash with pruritus on back and arms, and service-connected PTSD-related HTN are not supported by evidence of a current disability. The Board has also determined that remand is necessary for additional development regarding the Veteran's claims for these conditions.