Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral knee and foot conditions, as well as her left shoulder condition, are granted service connection. The Board found the evidence in balance for these conditions being related to active service.

The Veteran was denied clothing allowances in 2013, but testified at a hearing that he needed them for specific disabilities. The Board finds the matter remanded to issue an SSOC.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right wrist rheumatoid arthritis and service connection for a right shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder injury, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and stomach ulcer.

The Veteran's claim for reopening service connection for his left shoulder disability, including rotator cuff tear and osteoarthritis, is being remanded due to the need for a hearing with a Decision Officer (DO).

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability was denied prior to July 26, 2023.,A 30 percent rating is granted effective from July 26, 2023, but the Veteran's request for a higher rating remains denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent since April 3, 2018. The Board finds a need for additional medical evidence to determine if the disability warranted a higher rating prior to that date.,The Veteran's lumbar spine DJD and DDD warrant an increased rating beyond the current 40 percent assigned. A remand is required to assess the severity of his condition, including whether functional equivalent of ankylosis exists due to painful flare-ups.,A compensable initial rating for scars associated with back surgery and left shoulder surgery is needed as the Veteran reported painful flare-ups but no estimated loss of motion was provided by the VA examiner.,The Veteran's scar on his midline lumbar spine requires a remand to assess its severity, including whether it meets criteria for a compensable initial rating.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, characterized by limitation of motion with rotator cuff tendinitis and impingement syndrome, has not resulted in limited motion to midway between the side and shoulder level (45 degrees) in either flexion or abduction. As such, an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.

The Board has found a procedural error in docketing the Veteran's appeal and is remanding for issuance of a statement of the case regarding the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, right ankle, and left ankle disorders.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. His CAD rating is restored to 60 percent effective November 1, 2016. The right and left shoulder disorders are remanded for further examination. Service connection for hearing loss in the left ear is denied. Service connection for stroke, balance disorder, and cognitive disorder (presumably due to TBI) remains on appeal.

The Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities are granted as service-connected based on direct evidence linking them to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions addressing secondary service connection. The RO is requested to obtain additional VA treatment records, resubmit a buddy statement from J.F., and provide addendum VA medical opinions on the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for GERD, hypertension, skin condition, sleep apnea, nosebleeds, right wrist condition, and left hip condition due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran contends that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition, finding that the most probative evidence shows the condition began during active service and has been continuous to the present.

The Veteran's right shoulder, left shoulder, and migraine conditions are granted service connection. The bilateral hearing loss condition is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent disabling. The Board has found the VA examination to be inadequate for purposes of enabling a proper assessment of the current severity of his bilateral shoulder disability and has therefore remanded the case for further evaluation.

The appeals for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disability are dismissed as the Veteran's claims were improperly docketed under the AMA.,The appeals for neck, left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities are also dismissed due to improper docketing under the AMA.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied, but the claim for TDIU was granted as of July 16, 2018.

The Board has denied service connection for multiple conditions, including right hip disorder replacement, eczema, right shoulder rotator cuff chronic residuals, degenerative disc disease of the cervical, hypertension, left shoulder rotator cuff chronic residuals, right knee DJD, left hip disorder replacement, and lumbosacral neuritis radiculitis thoracic, all of which are determined to not be related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder, psychiatric disorder, nerve impingement of the legs, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and left foot disorder. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for lumbar spine disorder.