Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that there were pre-decisional duty to assist errors and the claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, requiring a new opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder condition.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine and bilateral shoulder disabilities have been granted increased ratings effective August 25, 2021. The left shoulder disability received a rating of 30 percent, while the right shoulder disability was rated at 30 percent as well.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for GERD was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a more than 10 percent disability rating.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a left shoulder condition is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, arthritis (multiple joints, to include shoulders), and lumbosacral strain due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Veteran's claim for lumbosacral strain is remanded as there are outstanding private treatment records that have not been associated with his claims file.,The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, arthritis (multiple joints, to include shoulders), and lumbosacral strain due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Veteran's claim for lumbosacral strain is remanded as there are outstanding private treatment records that have not been associated with his claims file.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to errors in notice and duty to assist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's recurrent left wrist sprain residuals are service-connected. The remaining issues of service connection for various other disabilities have been remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis as there is no persuasive evidence of their onset during active service or a relationship to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an employment handicap, as he has overcome any impairments to employability through his education, work history, and transferrable skills. Therefore, VR&E benefits are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence and potential procedural errors. The Veteran contends his current right shoulder disability had its onset during active military service, including an incident in January 1978 where he was involved in a motor vehicle accident while wearing a seatbelt.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to a pre-decisional error in the duty to assist, specifically regarding the need for an adequate medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder condition is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder condition.

The Board has denied service connection for sickle cell anemia and remanded the remaining claims due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's right shoulder, back, and knee disabilities are also being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral middle radicular group on a presumptive basis. The claims for left knee and left shoulder disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, to include radiculopathy has been dismissed as the AOJ's January 2024 rating decision granted service connection.,The RO remanded issues regarding a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral recurrent otitis externa and service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, to include nervous condition and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing or incomplete records, and for additional medical opinions regarding his eye conditions.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease, right shoulder strain, and osteoarthritis of the right shoulder as these conditions are not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for arthritis of the joints, including as a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317, was denied. The appeal is also remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and a duty to assist error. The issues include right shoulder, left shoulder, bilateral foot, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions obtained prior to the November 2022 rating decision were inadequate, as they did not provide a rationale regarding whether the Veteran's left shoulder disability is due to treatment provided by a VA medical facility, including any vaccinations. The case is therefore being remanded for an addendum opinion.