Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA opinions and missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left knee disability has been dismissed.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is granted, and the issue of service connection for PTSD is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that his preexisting condition did not worsen during service and was instead the natural progression of his injury.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, as secondary to a service-connected disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left hip, right hip, and right shoulder disabilities due to additional relevant treatment records being added to the claims file.

The Veteran's initial rating of 10% for his left shoulder disability was increased to 20%, effective May 14, 2013. The Board found the evidence consistent with a December 2020 VA examination report showing that the Veteran could not lift more than 5 lbs. above his head and flexion and abduction were limited to 90 degrees.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a back disability, hypertension, right shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and missing hospital records from Guam.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities, including right ankle, left leg, right leg, frostbite residuals, inguinal injury, sterility, right shoulder, low back, bilateral hip, and left ankle disabilities. The remand is due to incomplete service treatment records from the Veteran's first period of active service and the need for addendum opinions regarding the relationship between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including fibromyalgia, PTSD, migraines, bilateral shoulder impingement syndrome, coccydynia, and rhomboid muscle strain with bilateral trapezius muscle strain, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The decision grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss.,An initial disability rating of 20 percent, but no greater, for DDD of the lumbar spine with IVDS from June 30, 2014 is granted. The Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher rating due to lack of forward flexion and IVDS episodes.,The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis is denied as the evidence does not support a rating greater than 20 percent.,An initial disability rating of 30 percent, but no greater, for posttraumatic headaches from June 30, 2014 is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.,The Veteran has multiple new and material evidence-based claims that require additional VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's application to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, to include nerve damage is granted. The Board also remanded the case for further development and an examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations, treatment records review, and consideration of new evidence. The effective date for left hand neuropathy is established as October 30, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is related to an in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome with hemochromatosis and arthralgia of the hands, shoulders, and knees are rated at their maximum levels. The scar and disfigurement from chemotherapy port insertion is rated as 10 percent disabling, and a separate rating for painful scars is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability has been granted a 40 percent rating, effective from May 8, 2017. The other conditions have also received increased ratings.

The Board has decided to remand three issues: bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability rating, and TDIU. The Veteran will be given another opportunity for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The appeal for service connection of various disabilities, including a right lower extremity disability, has been dismissed as the Veteran's claim was granted in full. The remaining issues have been remanded for further review.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for various shoulder, wrist, knee, and hamstring disabilities. The issues of rating in excess of 10 percent for left and right ankle arthritis have also been remanded.