Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected left knee and right shoulder disabilities, along with compensation benefits awarded under 38 USC § 1151 for a right bicep detachment during shoulder surgery, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from December 22, 2011 to December 11, 2016.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from July 1, 2016, to June 25, 2017, and beginning June 26, 2017, due to his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) status post coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

The appeal concerning the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, a bilateral shoulder disability, hematuria, and a neck disability, and increased ratings for hemorrhoids and a left abdomen scar is dismissed.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left and right shoulder disability and fibromyalgia to obtain additional evidence.

The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and remanded the other claims for further development.

The Board dismissed all claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for service-connected conditions, as well as the claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, due to the Veteran's death and the fact that no unadjudicated issues were pending at the time of his passing.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and eating disorder, but denied service connection for right hand arthritis, left hand arthritis, nerve damage in the neck, nerve damage in the right shoulder, nerve damage in the left shoulder, bronchitis, a gynecological disability, and non-compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis.

The Board remands the appeal to the agency of original jurisdiction for a medical opinion on the nature and etiology of any right shoulder disorder.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding the Veteran's reported symptoms did not meet the medical definition of tinnitus and were instead consistent with transient ear noise. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right hand disability, and right shoulder disability are remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claim for a left shoulder condition to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion regarding its etiology, including whether it is related to service or secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder and a right shoulder disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, requiring a medical opinion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for hypertension, service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The claims for service connection for left shoulder tendonitis, right shoulder pain, and lumbar spine disease were remanded.

The appeal for an increased rating for left hip, the claims for entitlement to an earlier effective date and an increased rating for right knee strain, and the appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left shoulder strain were dismissed. The claim for a 40 percent rating from June 24, 2021 for degenerative disc disease was granted.

The Board granted service connection for right shoulder arthritis and left index finger fracture residuals, but remanded the claims for an eye condition, a right ankle condition, bilateral knee conditions, and a low back condition.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for hypopigmented macules and denied service connection for hypercholesterolemia, while remanding several other claims for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder as there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or post-service, and the Veteran failed to attend a scheduled VA examination.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD, denied ratings in excess of 30 percent for left and right knee strains, granted separate 10 percent ratings for painful, noncompensable limitation of flexion of the knees, granted service connection for back condition and related radiculopathies, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right shoulder condition.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee strain and left shoulder strain, both related to in-service parachute jumps.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities for further development, including a new examination.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder and elbow disabilities, but granted a 20 percent disability rating for right and left lumbar radiculopathy. The claim for a left knee disability was remanded.