Shoulder Board decisions

The appeal for service connection for lower back disability, right shoulder disability, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) was denied due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and ratings for various conditions, including PTSD, based on the Veteran's intent to file a claim submitted in February 2023.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder condition, thoracolumbar spine condition, and cervical spine condition as they are directly related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board denied service connection for anterior labrum tear, left shoulder and a compensable disability rating for scar, left shoulder, status post-arthroscopy.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, left shoulder bicipital tendon tear, hypogonadism, erectile dysfunction, and left carpal tunnel syndrome. The claims for increased ratings for lumbar spondylosis with facet arthropathy and lumbosacral strain, right hip strain with osteoarthritis, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (to include iliotibial band syndrome), and chronic right wrist sprain were denied. The Board also granted an effective date of July 7, 2023 for the award of increased ratings.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection claims, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these matters.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, left shoulder strain, and right shoulder strain.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and right knee osteoarthritis, but denied service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right hand degenerative arthritis, left hand degenerative arthritis, left shoulder subdeltoid bursitis (claimed as degenerative arthritis), right shoulder strain (claimed as degenerative arthritis), major depressive disorder, and an anxiety disorder.

The Board denied service connection for right foot degenerative joint disease of first MTP joint and hallux rigidus, left foot degenerative joint disease of first MTP joint and hallux rigidus (secondary to the right foot condition), and left shoulder strain and rotator cuff tendonitis.

The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity and denied increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, while remanding claims for a cervical spine disability, hypertension, and a left shoulder disorder.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for GERD, left shoulder conditions, and bilateral trigger finger to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors by obtaining adequate VA medical opinions.

The Board remands the claim for a left shoulder disability to secure an addendum opinion that adequately considers the Veteran's reported in-service injury and continuous symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo, secondary to tinnitus and a compensable rating for the cesarean section scar. The claims for service connection for left ankle condition, right ankle status post achilles tendon repair, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, osteoarthritis of both hips, right wrist condition, and left wrist condition were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding VA's obligation to obtain relevant records from the Social Security Administration.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected PTSD from April 26, 2020, and special monthly compensation from April 26, 2021.

The Board denied increased ratings for coronary artery disease and granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, while remanding the claim for a left shoulder condition.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, back disorder, and neuropathy as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's left shoulder disability and also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's right shoulder condition, right foot condition, and left foot condition based on their onset during active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of a causal relationship between the claimed conditions and active duty service.