Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder, elbow, hip, and back disorders. The issues related to entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are remanded due to their inextricably intertwined nature with these grants.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and the need for additional testing on the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the claims for left and right knee disabilities to determine if they are secondary to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for left shoulder bursitis is denied as there is no evidence linking it to his active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration, including referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular TDIU evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as his claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability are all granted. The issue of service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability is remanded.

The DIC benefits claim is denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for receiving such benefits. The cause of death claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and his death.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the inadequacy of the September and November 2021 VA examination reports, which were authored by different physicians. The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities need to be re-evaluated with an appropriate clinician who must test for active motion, passive motion, pain with weight-bearing and without weight-bearing, and provide a retrospective opinion as to the range of motion prior to March 7, 2017.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities as the Veteran did not appeal the October 2020 decision denying the right shoulder disability claim, and a February 2021 rating decision granted the left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and missing service records. The Veteran's bilateral shoulder strains and OSA are being reviewed again to determine if they are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder condition, left knee condition, and skin disorder (including contact dermatitis) due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate, and thus remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disorders, as well as sleep apnea. The claims are being returned to VA for further development including obtaining medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to determine the etiology of his left shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right wrist disorder, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional medical inquiry due to significant worsening of the Veteran's left shoulder and back disabilities since their last examinations in November 2018. The Veteran is required to undergo a current examination to assess the severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for right shoulder impingement syndrome, acromioclavicular joint separation, and surgical scars associated with the condition were granted effective July 21, 1997. The Board found that new VA treatment records submitted within one year of a previous denial constituted new and material evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's statements about chronic or continuous symptoms since her in-service injury were not credible and that there was no causal relationship between her current condition and the September 2000 in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's depression and obesity, which is necessary for service connection of sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's employment conditions from January 23, 2007 were consistent with those of a marginal or protected employment situation due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from January 23, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation (SMC) prior to January 31, 2017 was denied because he did not meet the criteria for SMC based on a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, sleep disorder, and kidney disease. Service connection was granted for macular degeneration.,Service connection for the left shoulder disability, sleep disorder, and kidney disease was not established due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.