Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left shoulder disorder has been withdrawn. The remaining issues have been remanded for further evaluation and clarification of the Veteran's conditions.,Issues related to right hip, right shoulder, left hip, bilateral hearing loss, heart disorder (to include CAD), sleep disorder (to include OSA), and chronic fatigue are being remanded for additional examination and analysis.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as she meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU based on all her service-connected disabilities, which include a lumbar spine disability rated at 40 percent and other conditions. The effective date will be determined by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further development, including VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, arthritis including involvement of hips and shoulders, and atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) due to the lack of evidence showing these conditions began during service or are related to service.,Specifically, the VA examiner found no link between current lumbar spine diagnoses and in-service injury, event, or disease. The Board also noted that there is no medical or scientific evidence linking the development of arthritis to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that the medical opinions regarding the appellant's Crohn's disease are inadequate and remanded for a new opinion. The issues of service connection for various conditions, including depression, gastroparesis, regional enteritis of small intestine, psoriasis, arthritis, and osteoporosis, are also being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for OSA, right elbow disorder, bilateral shoulder disorders, and hypothyroidism. The denial is based on the lack of a medical nexus between these conditions and service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions obtained on remand are inadequate and requires further examination to determine if any of the Veteran's claimed disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and is granted.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for migraine headaches, arthritis of the shoulders, knees, hips, and back have all been denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, effective July 1, 2018. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his range of motion did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability was denied. The evidence did not show that the condition warranted a higher rating prior to November 17, 2021, or since then.

The Board has determined that further remand is necessary to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist in the evaluation of the Veteran's right shoulder, left ankle, and sleep apnea claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to failure to report for a scheduled shoulder examination. The duty to assist requires efforts to reschedule the examination and provide adequate notice.

The claim for service connection for a right ankle disability is granted. The Veteran's PTSD remains at a 70 percent rating, but the Board finds no evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for miliaria was granted at 30 percent effective April 26, 2018. The increased rating claim for right hip osteoarthritis (limitation of flexion) was denied. Service connection was established for left hip osteoarthritis as secondary to service-connected right and left knee disabilities, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and deviated septum. Service connection for right shoulder osteoarthritis was also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, right shoulder, left shoulder, right ankle, and left ankle conditions due to a lack of examination related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) under the PACT Act and an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including left eye conjunctivitis, left foot disability, right foot disability, right hip disability, and right shoulder disability have been denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability or relationship to service.

The Board dismissed the claim for a compensable disability rating for left shoulder acromioclavicular separation as the Veteran did not submit a formal claim or notice of disagreement regarding this issue.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for headaches, lumbar spine disability, left shoulder disability, and left knee disability due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted due to his service-connected stroke, which precludes him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for an aneurysm of the descending aorta and left shoulder condition, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.