Shoulder Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for various shoulder, elbow, and wrist disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during the Veteran's period of active duty or were related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder arthritis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and cataracts due to service-connected dry eye syndrome.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of left shoulder arthritis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and cataracts were not present during his active duty or related to any in-service injury or disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination and the need for additional information regarding the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, including his use of cortisone injections.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right shoulder disability and COPD have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The current 20% rating for the right shoulder is upheld, while a higher rating for COPD remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder bursitis and hemorrhoids, as well as his initial ratings for asthma, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis due to inadequate VA examination reports.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury and left shoulder disorder, but finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have also been noted to have worsened since his last VA examination in April 2018, so he needs an updated evaluation. His TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. The case is remanded for further development regarding the character of discharge and other service connection claims.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right shoulder, right-hand, and left-hand disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss is granted, but with a noncompensable rating.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.,Gulf War Syndrome is granted.,Service connection for a lower back condition is granted.,Service connection for shin splints and left shoulder condition are granted.,The Veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss disability remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric disorder, bilateral flat feet disorder, and left shoulder disability. The appellant's psychiatric disorders are not related to her period of ACDUTRA service. Her bilateral flat feet were noted upon enlistment but did not worsen beyond its natural progression during the ACDUTRA period. Her left shoulder disability is not related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD, right shoulder disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus have made him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 2, 2016. His claim for TDIU has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left shoulder scar and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has determined that further examination and opinion are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, as well as their relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and radiculopathy of the LLE, finding no current disabilities or causal relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right arm nerve problem with tingling from fingers to shoulder due to insufficient consideration of lay evidence and failure to address the relationship between the current condition and military service. The case is returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder conditions due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding symptom onset and continuity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right shoulder and neck disorders due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous decisions, including scheduling appropriate VA examinations.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's scars on his left shoulder and anterior trunk, finding that they did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis with winged scapula deformity was dismissed.,Service connection for PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST) and service connection for a skin disorder, manifested by lesions on the arms and legs, were granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.