Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed because the January 7, 2022 document does not meet the legal criteria to qualify as a decision and cannot form the basis of an appeal.

The Veteran's GERD has been granted a 30 percent rating, but not higher. The left shoulder scar remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle strain and left shoulder strain due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA will need to provide adequate examinations and opinions to determine if these conditions are related to her active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been granted, with the earliest effective date being September 22, 2020.,Earlier effective dates of September 20, 2020, were also granted for SMC housebound benefits and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) based on the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided in connection with these claims are inadequate and remands them for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus has been granted, and the Board is dismissing it. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, right shoulder disability, right elbow disability, right hip disability, and right knee disability are being remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted, but the appeal is dismissed as the benefit was already granted by the AOJ.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied because the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes during his period of active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted and a rating assigned, so the Board cannot consider this issue further.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral hip disability. The Veteran's migraine headaches were granted service connection.,Service connection was not established for lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, DDD of the spine, a left shoulder condition, and dementia due to lack of in-service injury or illness.,The claimant's discharge from active duty under dishonorable conditions barred VA compensation benefits for all four conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from November 14, 2011 to March 19, 2020.

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

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic sensory motor neuropathy, renal calculus, erectile dysfunction, and right knee disability.,There is no evidence of a chronic or continuous condition since service separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current umbilical hernia, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding left and right calf disorders, left and right shin splints, and a left shoulder disorder.

The Board has determined that there are missing service treatment records and the AOJ should make further attempts to locate these records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder disorder, hypertension, and GERD due to unclear evidence regarding the nature of his diagnoses and their relationship to service. The AOJ is required to obtain new VA examinations to clarify these issues.

The Veteran's appeal for SMC at the intermediate rate was granted, with two half-steps awarded due to service-connected depressive disorder and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran is already entitled to a full step (SMC-L) based on his need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for recurrent left shoulder dislocation is denied as his current range of motion does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee and left shoulder disabilities, finding the evidence at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions were caused by service.,Service connection was also granted for PTSD, but the Veteran did not meet the criteria for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and sleep apnea syndrome have been denied. The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to PTSD.