Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection of his left shoulder disability was received on June 29, 2020. The effective date for this grant is set at the date of receipt of the claim, which is June 29, 2020. The appeal regarding an earlier effective date has been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, colon cancer, skin cancer, and COPD disabilities based on the Veteran's in-service exposure to toxic gasses and asbestos.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee strain, bilateral shoulder strain, and right elbow strain. The conditions are deemed to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for left shoulder pain and PTSD as they were deferred issues without an adjudicative determination.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, colon cancer, skin cancer, and COPD disabilities based on the Veteran's in-service exposure to asbestos and toxic gasses.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the bilateral knees, cervical strain, and lumbosacral strain, finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The appeal for service connection of a left shoulder condition is dismissed because the Veteran's notice of disagreement did not identify a valid rating decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left knee chondromalacia was denied as the evidence did not show extension limited to more than 20 degrees.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left shoulder condition was denied as the evidence did not show limitation of motion of the arm at shoulder level or to 25 degrees from side.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, sphincter impairment, a skin rash, left shoulder degenerative arthritis with tendinitis, and left ankle degenerative arthritis have all been denied. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and sinusitis/rhinitis.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is pending.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal in its entirety, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a depressive disorder and shoulder and knee conditions, effectively preclude him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a total right shoulder replacement and bilateral inguinal hernias with associated scarring, have rendered him unemployable from September 18, 2009 to February 28, 2013. The Board has remanded the case for referral to the Director of Compensation Services for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition, including a labral tear and glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion regarding its onset during full-time National Guard duty.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is granted a 20 percent rating, effective December 25, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, rhinitis, and acne rosacea due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current conditions are not supported by the medical records provided during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to a duty to assist error and the need to adjudicate secondary service connection for ankle disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to ensure all VA treatment records have been associated with the claims file, and then to adjudicate the secondary service connection claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo was denied as there is no medical evidence showing a current diagnosis of vertigo related to service.,A 70 percent rating for PTSD was granted, effective from February 5, 2020.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various shoulder and cervical spine conditions as they have been granted within a prior rating decision.