Shoulder Board decisions

The Board granted earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection, as well as awards of special monthly compensation and Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings or service connection.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including right and left shoulder pain, nephrolithiasis, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and upper extremity radiculopathy. The claims were not granted.

The Board granted an effective date of August 6, 2021, but no earlier, for the award of a 10 percent rating for right hip strain, impairment of the thigh. Other claims were denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left shoulder injury, right knee injury, and bilateral flatfeet to obtain outstanding treatment records and military personnel records as well as VA examinations and opinions.

The Board granted a clothing allowance for the use of a lumbar spine brace and crutches, but denied allowances for right knee brace, left ankle brace, and capsaicin cream.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and initial rating claims due to untimely filings, except for chronic sinusitis which was granted on a direct basis.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder condition, variously diagnosed as shoulder strain, mild rotator cuff tendinosis, Hill-Sachs deformity with mild marrow edema, and mild acromioclavicular joint degenerative changes, based on the Veteran's in-service repetitive use during his active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and right hand scar, but denied service connection for other claimed conditions including diabetes type II, erectile dysfunction, headaches, heart disease, obstructive sleep apnea, left shoulder injury, left hand injury, lower back injury, right shoulder injury, upper back injury, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board remands the case to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the failure to obtain relevant VA and private treatment records.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, left ankle disability, and right elbow disability after new evidence was submitted. The claim for a right shoulder disability was denied. Various knee and scar ratings were either granted or denied.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 100 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, persistent, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and neck pain were remanded.

The Board denied initial disability ratings for various conditions, including GERD, shoulder strain, elbow strains, lumbosacral strain, and knee conditions. A separate rating was granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy due to the service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's right small finger fracture and right optic neuropathy, but granted an effective date of August 20, 2021, for a 20 percent disability rating for painful right shoulder scars.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to untimely filing of the Board Appeal requests.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis & separation condition, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and sleep apnea with asthma.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's right wrist condition and a 60 percent rating for residuals of his right partial shoulder replacement, except during periods of convalescence following surgery.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and granted higher initial ratings, earlier effective dates, or SMC in some cases while denying them in others.

The Board remands the claims for a compensable rating and service connection due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including missing VA treatment records and unfulfilled examination requests.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 4, 2015 for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance.