Shoulder Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine, left shoulder, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements of continuity.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition, cervical spine condition, and low back condition due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board dismissed the appeals of proposed reductions in disability ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and right shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis and clavicle deformity as they are not appealable determinations.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the 30 percent and 40 percent disability ratings for the Veteran's right shoulder condition, as there was no evidence of a factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to the claims.

The appeal was denied for higher ratings and remanded for service connection of various conditions.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy. The claims for other disabilities were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased rating to afford the Veteran an opportunity to attend examinations.

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for GERD and denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, low back disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right shoulder disability, respiratory disability, sleep apnea, and scars. Service connection was granted for irritable bowel syndrome, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD), headache disability as secondary to PTSD/MDD, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD/MDD.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a total disability due to individual unemployability based on a single disability for special monthly compensation purposes, as there was no evidence that any single service-connected condition or combination of conditions rendered him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment.

The Veteran's request for Higher-Level Review of the denial of his claims was untimely and therefore denied.

The appeal was withdrawn by the appellant on June 13, 2024, and is therefore dismissed.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain and service connection for a left ankle disorder, left shoulder disorder, neck disorder, right ankle disorder, and a right elbow disorder due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder strain and remanded the claim for service connection for hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a digestive disability other than diverticulosis with lactose intolerance, but granted an initial 10 percent rating for bilateral shin splints effective March 22, 2020.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and increased rating, finding that the April 9, 2018 claim date was appropriate.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for various conditions to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the December 2022 decision on appeal.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for right shoulder scars, based on the Veteran's reports of pain and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability was denied. The claims for right knee disability and ratings in excess of the assigned percentages were remanded.

The veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for left carpal scaphoid fracture with degenerative arthritis was denied. The claims for service connection for right shoulder bursitis, right foot condition, and left foot condition were remanded.

The Board remanded all issues related to service connection for various conditions, including bilateral pes planus, right and left shoulder disorders, bilateral foot disorder (plantar fasciitis), and a bunion on the left foot. The Veteran's lay statements were not adequately addressed in previous examinations.