Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder strain and rotator cuff tear with tendonitis and tenosynovitis, as well as for a lumbar disorder, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine and scoliosis.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain and migraine headaches are granted. The claim for migraine headaches is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism, which was rated at 100 percent from June 4, 2008 to October 4, 2015, is granted. The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot due to her having a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further development regarding his exposure at Fort McClellan, including toxic exposures. The Board will consider all evidence and determine if there is a nexus between the claimed conditions and these exposures.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder condition, including tendinitis and shoulder impingement syndrome, is related to his military service. However, due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion, the case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for neck disability, back disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, left knee disability, depression, anxiety, stomach disability, and residuals of mefloquine toxicity due to a duty-to-assist error. The effective date claim for scar of the right breast is denied as there was no intent to file a claim prior to February 15, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. Service connection is granted for PTSD, OSA, bilateral hearing loss, neck disability, right shoulder disability, right middle finger disability, right ankle disability, and left leg disability.,The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed as the appeal has been granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, left hand condition, right hand condition, and muscle pain are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service. The claims for left knee strain, right knee strain, and left shoulder condition are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for separate 20% ratings for left and right shoulder limitation of motion have been granted effective April 15, 2019. These were previously pending but not formally submitted until after the October 2015 rating decision became final.

The Board has found that there are gaps in the Veteran's service records and VA treatment records, which need to be verified and obtained. The claims for service connection on all issues related to knee disabilities, shoulder disabilities, foot disabilities, eye disability, and high blood pressure are being remanded due to these missing records.

The Veteran's right shoulder tendonitis and bilateral hearing loss disabilities have been rated, but the Board found that neither condition warranted an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disorders. The VA examiner is requested to consider the Veteran's reports and provide an opinion on whether his current conditions are related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's left shoulder strain with labral tear and tendinitis was denied an increased rating prior to February 9, 2024.,From February 9, 2024, the Veteran's left shoulder strain with labral tear and tendinitis was also denied an increased rating.,The Veteran's migraines were granted a 50 percent initial rating from October 8, 2022.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 60 percent on an extra-schedular basis since July 17, 2018. The rating will be effective as of that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including failure to obtain VA and private medical records related to his hip conditions, neck injury, and right shoulder injury.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder condition and remanded the issues of rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease with spondylosis, spinal stenosis and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues for further review, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no evidence of current bilateral hearing disability meeting VA criteria. His left shoulder scars and left flank scar ratings remain noncompensable due to lack of compensating factors such as pain or instability. Hyperuricemia is not rated higher than noncompensable under the applicable diagnostic codes, and hypertension remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing all issues related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, hypertension (high blood pressure), an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right shoulder condition, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction have been dismissed or denied. However, the Veteran was granted service connection for hypertension as due to service, and his claims for secondary service connection for MDD and anxiety have been granted.

The appeal seeking service connection for IBS is dismissed.,Service connection for hypertension is denied.,The left shoulder condition claim is remanded.