Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to inadequate opinions in the February 2017 VA examination reports. The claims will be reviewed again with new examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, right shoulder rotator cuff tear with degenerative joint disease, left shoulder rotator cuff tear with degenerative joint disease, sciatica of the left lower extremity, and sciatica of the right lower extremity. The conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during service and has continued since then. Service connection for this condition is granted.,VA examination did not find hearing loss in either ear at the time of the January 2017 VA examination, but the Veteran reported worsening symptoms since that time. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded for a new VA examination to determine if current hearing loss disability exists and its etiology.,The Veteran's lumbar spine condition, bilateral knee conditions (left and right), left hand condition, and left shoulder condition are all remanded as the January 2017 VA examiner did not provide opinions regarding their direct relationship to service. A new VA examination is required for these claims.,The Veteran's left ankle condition and right ankle condition are both remanded as a new VA examination is needed to determine if current bilateral ankle conditions exist and their etiology.,The Veteran's balance impairment is also remanded as no opinion has been provided regarding its relationship to service. A new VA examination is required for this claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left shoulder conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, left shoulder joint separation, and knee chondromalacia have all been rated as per the current criteria without meeting the requirements for higher ratings.,Higher ratings are not warranted due to lack of evidence showing respiratory failure or tracheostomy required for a 100% rating for sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his left ankle injury, bilateral hearing loss, high blood pressure, acquired psychiatric disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of a left shoulder disability and concludes that there is no causal relationship between any diagnosed condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the appellant's exposure to herbicide agents, asbestos, or PCBs during service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities are inextricably intertwined with the issue of exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further development is required.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, left shoulder disability, and lung disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis and right shoulder arthritis due to additional development being required.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and denied increased ratings for the Veteran's knees. The decision also remanded issues regarding secondary service connection for knee disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection of right shoulder, left knee, and infertility disabilities due to new evidence submitted. The cases are remanded for further development.

Service connection for prostate cancer is granted under the PACT Act of 2022.,Service connection for PTSD and persistent depressive disorder is granted. The Board found that these conditions are related to service, including in-service stressors.

Service connection for a left knee disorder is granted.,The issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the May 2002 rating decision that denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 21, 2017, for the award of service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome with degenerative arthritis is also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and right shoulder disability due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition, but his right shoulder disability may be related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been incurred during active duty.,VA examinations were not provided for the Veteran's hip, low back, and knee disabilities. The Veteran also needs a VA examination for his PTSD.