Shoulder Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD, while denying other claims. The remaining claims were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU, finding insufficient evidence to support a reasonable possibility of unemployability due to his only service-connected disability, tinnitus.

The Board granted an initial compensable rating for right foot hallux valgus and remanded the claims for service connection for a back, right shoulder, left shoulder, and right knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for chronic kidney disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected orthopedic disabilities and dismissed the appeal for tinnitus due to a procedural defect. The issue of service connection for a right shoulder disability was remanded.

The Board granted an initial 10 percent rating for right knee instability but denied a higher rating, and granted earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Board granted restoration of a 10 percent evaluation for the service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome with chondromalacia patellae, effective September 28, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for a right and left shoulder disability, finding that both were proximately due to the Veteran's already service-connected ankylosing spondylitis.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as a qualifying chronic disability and granted an initial 10% rating for right knee instability, while denying service connection for other conditions including right wrist disorder, left hip disorder, right hand arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, increased ratings for the right knee flexion, and right shoulder recurrent dislocation.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability requires regular aid and attendance, entitling him to special monthly compensation.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and tinnitus. The claims for increased ratings for right shoulder degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative arthritis were denied. An effective date of April 23, 2021, was granted for the award of a 100 percent evaluation for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder disability, to include osteoarthritis, and an effective date of April 20, 2017, but not earlier, for the award of service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder condition and denied entitlement to a higher combined rating for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus is dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal has been granted in full. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder and alcohol/stimulant use disorder, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, right knee disability (degenerative arthritis), and right knee surgical scars. The issues of a low back disability, right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, left knee disability, shin splints, right foot disability, and right ankle disability were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal request was denied as it was not timely filed within one year of the rating decision.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and denied an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The claims for other conditions were remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for headaches and sleep apnea due to a withdrawal request. The claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition was remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding no evidence of an ongoing diagnosis or need for care since the in-service event and no medical opinion linking the current condition to service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings to schedule VA examinations to determine the current state of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for a status-post cyst excision scar of the left shoulder and denied an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for chronic maxillary sinusitis.