Shoulder Board decisions

The Board dismissed the appeal due to an impermissible concurrent election of review lanes.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder, low back disability, right shoulder disability, and bilateral plantar fasciitis and bilateral pes planus. The Veteran was also granted an initial 70 percent rating for his major depressive disorder.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left and right shoulder, left and right knee, and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a traumatic brain injury, left ear disability, right shoulder disability, and respiratory disability as there was no evidence of current disabilities or that these conditions were incurred in or caused by service. The claim for a neck disability was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee, right shoulder, and right shin disorder but denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for a lumbar disorder.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders and musculoskeletal issues, due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, residuals of a prosthetic replacement of the left shoulder joint, and a left upper extremity scar.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder condition, finding that it is but-for due to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder condition secondary to left shoulder rotator cuff tear, sinusitis, and a 30 percent rating for vertigo since December 14, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for other specified depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, and increased the ratings for thoracic spine degenerative changes, right knee degenerative disease, left knee degenerative disease, and right shoulder degenerative joint disease.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for lumbar spine, left elbow, and left shoulder conditions based on new and relevant evidence. However, these claims were also remanded for further development.

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

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including chronic sinusitis and dermatosis, and assigned a 10 percent disability rating for scars from right shoulder surgery and right testicular hydrocele status-post surgical repair.

The Board granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and a left shoulder disorder, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hip and soft tissue sarcoma conditions, due to a need for additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD)/intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) prior to July 2, 2019, but denied a higher rating for the entire period. The other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board remands the case to provide the Veteran with notice of his right to a pre-decisional hearing and to readjudicate the claim.

The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was dismissed, while the claims for right shoulder strain, left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right elbow condition, alopecia, and an acquired psychiatric condition were readjudicated. The claim for PTSD was remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition and a left wrist condition, as there was no evidence of a current disability at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder strain and impingement syndrome and mild obstructive lung disease, but denied an increased rating for hypertension. The remaining issues are remanded.