Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's right shoulder arthritis was diagnosed during service and has continued since then. The Board found that the evidence supports a finding of service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current findings.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran's service treatment records indicate a left arm injury with numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation during service. The VA examiner will be required to provide an opinion on whether the current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, bilateral wrist nerve condition, bilateral hearing loss, neck condition, back condition, right shoulder clavicle disability, and left elbow condition have all been denied. The Board found no current disabilities of the claimed conditions.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between any current disabilities and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right elbow and right shoulder disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for left shoulder degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative arthritis, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding various conditions, including major depressive disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, cervicogenic headaches, left hip degenerative arthritis, right hip degenerative arthritis, left shoulder DJD, right shoulder osteoarthritis, and hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder condition. The claim will be reconsidered with additional private treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis are remanded for further development, including obtaining medical nexus opinions regarding the relationship to service and toxic exposure.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was not aggravated by his military service.,The Board also denied service connection for a right shoulder condition, concluding that there is no medical evidence linking the current diagnosis to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for right shoulder disability was dismissed because it became final on January 20, 2022. The claims of left shoulder and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for chronic bronchitis is denied, and the left shoulder disability claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has determined that new evidence received after the denial of service connection for a right shoulder disability warrants readjudication. The AOJ is instructed to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current right shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current right shoulder, right hip, and bilateral knee disorders.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for the claimed conditions of bilateral shoulder condition, bilateral flat feet, OSA, neck/cervical spine condition, ED, and GERD before a decision was made by the Board.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for knee disorder, manifested by weakness and left shoulder disorder, manifested by loss of motion. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety, depression, and PTSD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right elbow medial epicondylitis, right knee patellar tendonitis, and a right shoulder pain condition (rotator cuff tendonitis) due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for readjudication of his claim for service connection for a left shoulder rotator cuff tear with strain due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The appeal regarding the lumbar spine disability is being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with spondylolisthesis, right shoulder strain with shoulder impingement syndrome, and bilateral hip strains as secondary to service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of an etiology opinion in some cases, and the failure to obtain such opinions constitutes a predecisional duty to assist error.