Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for asthma, diabetes mellitus, an eye disability, acid reflux, rectal bleeding, gout, herpes simplex 2, a right shoulder disability, and a left shoulder disability. The cervical spine issue is remanded due to outstanding medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran contends that his current conditions are related to his service-connected left ankle disability or service, respectively.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability (left shoulder DJD) and denied service connection for hemorrhoids. The decision on the left shoulder disability is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active service, including an injury in service and overuse of his dominant right side to protect his injured right shoulder.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder tendonitis, left shoulder tendonitis, left elbow epicondylitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, and right wrist tendosynovitis. Service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is also granted. The claim for erectile dysfunction (ED) was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the possibility of worsening since his last VA examination in July 2016.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II as due to herbicide agent exposure is remanded because there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded due to the possibility that the condition has worsened since the last VA examination in July 2016.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded because there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease is remanded due to the possibility that there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder is remanded because there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder is remanded due to the possibility that there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder is remanded due to the possibility that there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee scar is remanded because there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for presbyopia is denied as refractive errors are not considered diseases or injuries under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left shoulder disability. The decision on service connection for left knee disability and left knee scar remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis in the bilateral fingers, other than right little finger and for an undiagnosed illness (claimed as fatigue). Service connection was also denied for degenerative arthritis of the bilateral shoulders. The Veteran's claims were decided on a direct basis without any presumption or secondary relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied for various conditions, including hyperlipidemia/dyslipidemia, acquired psychiatric disability, right shoulder disability, skin disease, dental disability, hepatitis B, left shoulder disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, microscopic hematuria, GERD, and hypertension. The Board found no evidence of in-service incurrence or a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's umbilical hernia residuals are currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to the lack of current diagnosis and evidence of hearing impairment for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, left hip, and left shoulder disabilities have been granted. The claim for service connection for Meniere's disease is remanded due to the need for further examination.,New evidence has been submitted supporting the Veteran's claims of service connection for his left ankle, left hip, and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on his left hand sprain and lumbar spine disabilities, as he withdrew these appeals. The remaining issues have been remanded for further review.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for major depressive disorder was denied, and the Board granted TDIU based on her service-connected shoulder disabilities.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical examinations.

The claims for service connection of left shoulder, left wrist, and right wrist disabilities have been reopened. The claim for PTSD has not been reopened. Service connection was denied for spondylolisthesis and prostate cancer.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his right shoulder disorder, finding that it is related to his military service and resolving all doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 16, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating determinations due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and his military service. The issues include right hip, ankle, shoulder, wrist, and knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and active duty service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is at least as likely as not related to a 1993 in-service injury and subsequent experiences of carrying rucksacks and heavy lifting related to a deployment to Afghanistan in 2012, leading to service connection for the condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for various conditions, including arthritis of the hands, OSA, PFB, prostate cancer, right shoulder arthritis, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The remaining issues are being remanded.