Shoulder Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the bilateral hands, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability as there was no evidence to support a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disorder due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right shoulder strain with impingement syndrome, acromial spurs, type II acromion, and arthritis AC joint, as the disability picture did not more closely approximate limitation of the major arm midway between side and shoulder level.

The appeal was denied due to untimely filing of the Board Appeal requests.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, functional abdominal pain syndrome (FAPS), and fibromyalgia. The initial disability ratings for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and migraine headaches were also denied. Some claims related to other disabilities were remanded.

The Board granted an initial 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis and a 30 percent rating for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, but denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

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

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error by scheduling an examination.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hand tremors and denied increased ratings for pain of the cervical thoracic region, post traumatic residual pain of the left shoulder, allergic rhinitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board granted an effective date of August 26, 2020, for a 20 percent disability rating and denied a higher rating during the appeal period.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right foot conditions (hallux rigidus, calcaneal spurs, and plantar fascitis), left foot conditions (hallux rigidus, calcaneal spurs, and plantar fascitis), and bilateral Achilles tendonitis.

The Board granted entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance, denied an increased rating for PTSD beyond the current 100% rating, denied earlier effective dates for SMC housebound status and DEA benefits, and dismissed the issue of a TDIU as moot.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for status post bunionectomy and hallux rigidus of the left great toe, and remanded several other claims related to various conditions.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder strain, finding that it is etiologically related to his active-duty military service.

The Board denied service connection for a neck and left shoulder disability but granted restoration of the rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder strain, right knee limitation of flexion and extension, post operative residuals, right knee meniscectomy, and right knee scars. The veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from May 23, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder condition, finding that the Veteran's left shoulder condition is causally related to his time in the National Guard.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder of the right shoulder, a skin disorder of the right arm, and a left knee disorder. The claims were not granted.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right shoulder acromioclavicular and glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and right knee joint osteoarthritis, as well as a separate 20% rating for erectile dysfunction. The Board denied an increased disability rating higher than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II but granted service connection for bilateral primary open-angle glaucoma secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected foot disability was dismissed, and the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, left shoulder, and right arm disabilities were reopened.