Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes, GERD, left shoulder disability, lower back disability, OSA, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder status post rotator cuff repair and left shoulder strain, to determine if the ratings should be backdated to May 3, 2024.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder disability, radial sensory neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and DVT (deep vein thrombosis) of the left shoulder are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the effects of medication.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of PTSD was denied, as the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,Service connection for a left shoulder disability and lumbar spine disability were also denied. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions had onset in service or were otherwise related to service.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for the evaluations assigned for his right shoulder and left knee disabilities. The Board finds that there may be relevant VA outpatient treatment records from prior to the September 2020 rating decision, which could potentially affect whether an increase in severity was factually ascertainable during those periods.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle tibiotalar joint osteoarthritis, right ankle tibiotalar joint osteoarthritis, and right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent lay statements, his service treatment records showing bilateral ankle complaints during service in March and April 1997, and a September 2023 private opinion linking these conditions to his active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder strain as secondary to the service-connected residuals of left wrist Keinbock's disease. The claim for right thumb trigger finger with osteoarthritis is remanded due to inadequate opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spondylosis, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability. The Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

Your appeals for service connection of right and left shoulder disorders have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and an increased rating for persistent post-traumatic headaches has been withdrawn by the appellant's representative. The appeals for service connection for right knee, left shoulder, IBS, and TBI residuals have been remanded due to lack of VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that his current condition is related to an in-service injury and resolving all doubt in his favor.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to recognize his December 17, 2008 correspondence as a timely and valid Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with the November 2008 rating decision. The underlying compensation claims will be addressed in a separate Board decision under the Legacy appeal system.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for his left shoulder (minor) disability has been granted at a 30 percent level, effective from January 31, 2011. Separate ratings of 10 percent have also been granted for painful scars on the left shoulder. Temporary total disability ratings based on surgery convalescence have been granted multiple times during the appeal period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, back pain, right lower extremity nerve condition, left lower extremity nerve condition, and left shoulder condition. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed right knee, left knee, right hip, left hip, right shoulder, and left shoulder conditions as there is no persuasive evidence that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, right hip, and left shoulder conditions. The cases are being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder strain, right knee strain, and left knee strain (claimed as sprain) due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during active military service or are related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder and knee conditions, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined impact of these disabilities.

The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative arthritis is granted service connection.,An initial rating of 40 percent for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis is granted, effective May 20, 2022.