Shoulder Board decisions

The appeal for service connection for PTSD was dismissed, and the appeals for service connection for various conditions were denied. Several claims for increased ratings were also denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, migraine headaches, sleep apnea, psychiatric disability, and multiple musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. The Board also denied an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining supplemental medical opinions to address service connection and aggravation theories.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, granted service connection for musculoskeletal neck/upper back (cervical spine) condition/myofascial pain syndrome and right shoulder disability, and remanded several other claims.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis and in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder osteoarthritis to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for right shoulder disability, obstructive sleep apnea, low back disability, left ear hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, migraine headaches, special monthly compensation based on loss of use of creative organ, and remanded claims for service connection for right wrist, cervical spine, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders to correct duty to assist errors and obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 30, 2020, for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic arthritis of the left-hand long finger but denied earlier effective dates for other claims.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for tension headaches from September 10, 2021, to August 27, 2022, and denied increased ratings for other conditions.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder impingement syndrome and right shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis, as the prior VA examination was found inadequate.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, lumbar spine, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities. The Board also denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, a higher initial rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis, and an earlier effective date for a 50 percent disability rating for schizophrenia. However, the Board granted a 70 percent disability rating from December 14, 2021, for schizophrenia and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and to obtain TERA opinions.

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings, finding that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of increased ratings for right hip, left hip, and left shoulder conditions.

The Board remands the claims for a retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's left shoulder disability due to an inadequate examination and inextricably intertwined issues with TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including right and left shoulder strains with degenerative arthritis, right and left hip degenerative arthritis, left ankle degenerative arthritis with chronic instability and anterior talofibular ligament strain, cervical spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and obstructive sleep apnea, all of which are secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied increased ratings for degenerative change of the lumbar spine with strain, hearing loss, and residuals of fractured right 5th metacarpal with right hand arthritis. The claims for service connection for vision loss, left shoulder pain and limited mobility, varicose veins, and TDIU were remanded.

The appeal was dismissed due to a claims processing error.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent disability rating for dry eye syndrome but remanded the claims for service connection for back, left shoulder, right shoulder, and respiratory conditions.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain and a rating in excess of 20 percent for the left shoulder condition, but granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).