Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical strain is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his current condition began during active service or is related to an in-service injury.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis is remanded due to inadequate opinion regarding whether his current condition had its onset during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder strain is remanded due to inadequate opinion regarding whether his current condition is at least as likely as not (likely) related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and MDD with anxious distress, as well as left shoulder DJD. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant private treatment records and VA examinations. The Veteran's current disabilities of the shoulders and right knee are associated with an in-service motorcycle accident, but further evidence is needed to determine if these conditions were incurred or caused by that event.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of osteoarthritis of the left and right shoulders, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied. The Board also found that there are issues regarding service connection for elbow osteoarthritis which require further examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Veteran's untimely VA Form 10182 for service connection of a bilateral shoulder disability was concurrent with an already-pending HLR request, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has dismissed the service connection claims for left shoulder condition, left wrist condition, and COPD. The Veteran's claim for vertigo is granted, as is his claim for asthma.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed back, left shoulder, bilateral knee and foot disorders (chronic joint pain), and bilateral foot skin disorder. The Board found that these conditions did not onset during active service or are otherwise etiologically related to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, requiring additional VA examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraine headaches, and a right shoulder condition have been denied as the evidence of record does not meet the criteria for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a duty to assist error. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was granted. He now has a 50% disability rating for migraine headaches, bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine disability, right hip limitation of flexion, left hip limitation of flexion, right hip limitation of extension, left hip limitation of adduction, sinusitis, major right shoulder disability, minor left shoulder disability, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (secondary to lumbar spine disability).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability was granted with an effective date of March 4, 2020. The decision is based on the receipt of a complete VA Form 21-526EZ application submitted by the Veteran within one year of the initial incomplete submission.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded his claims of service connection for right shoulder disability and back disability due to incomplete STRs.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder pain and left shoulder pain, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot condition. The claims of left upper extremity nerve impingement, cervical strain, and left shoulder strain are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining relevant service treatment and personnel records, as well as for a VA examination to determine the nature and likely cause of any right shoulder disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error in the August 2021 rating decision. The Veteran's right shoulder disability claim is being returned for further evaluation.

The Veteran's IBS is rated as noncompensable, and the right tibia stress fracture residuals are also rated as noncompensable. Service connection for stress fractures of both tibias was denied due to lack of current diagnoses. The Veteran's numbness/tingling conditions were not found to be service-connected, and his heartburn condition is also denied.,The Veteran's right tibia stress fracture residuals are rated as noncompensable, and the left tibia stress fracture does not have a current diagnosis. Service connection for right lower extremity numbness/tingling and left lower extremity numbness/tingling was denied due to lack of current diagnoses. The service-connected heartburn condition is also denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected neck, shoulder, and rhinitis disabilities with obesity serving as an intermediate step.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder disability, finding that there was no increase in severity of the preexisting condition during service and thus not meeting the criteria for direct service connection.