Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further evaluation due to procedural issues and lack of compliance with prior instructions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disability. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his right shoulder disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain, impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear, glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, acromioclavicular joint ostearthritis, and dislocation had its onset during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) for the period prior to August 14, 2017. The decision is pending further development and review.

The Board has dismissed all appeals related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to his death.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's hearing loss, PTSD, foot disorders, IVDS, radiculopathy, and shoulder degenerative arthritis. The appellant is seeking an extension of time to respond due to delays in receiving notification letters from VA.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of several service-connected conditions, including recurrent leg and sleep disabilities. The Board also notes that the combined rating for all service-connected disabilities has not yet reached a level sufficient to warrant a TDIU.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition, including strain, degenerative arthritis, and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, is remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to higher ratings for his right shoulder limitation of motion and recurrent dislocation due to inadequate examinations in previous rating decisions. The Veteran is required to undergo a new examination that includes testing for pain on both active and passive motion, as well as retrospective opinions regarding functional loss during the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced continuous symptoms of reflux and heartburn since service, which is considered a diagnosed illness rather than a MUCMI. For the musculoskeletal issues (back arthritis, bilateral shoulder arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, and bilateral hip strain), the claim was remanded for further development as the previous opinions were deemed inadequate.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's right knee, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, PTSD, and left shoulder disabilities due to incomplete development of records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in July 2021 are inadequate and requires new examinations to address the Veteran's claims for service connection. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, restrictive ventilatory defect, and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right shoulder strain, left shoulder disorder, and right elbow disorder as the evidence did not support a direct relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral shoulder impingement syndrome, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional evidentiary development being required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's knee, hip, and shoulder disabilities are not related to his service due to incomplete medical opinions. The claims for these conditions are being remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities due to new evidence received since the February 2015 rating decision. The claims are now remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent since December 23, 2019. The earlier effective date of May 1, 2015 for the 30 percent rating assigned for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine has been granted.,The Veteran's left and right shoulder disabilities are each currently rated at 20 percent since the appeal period began on May 1, 2015. The initial ratings in excess of these percentages have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of varicose veins of the right lower extremity was dismissed. For his left ankle sprain, a rating in excess of 10 percent is granted as of January 17, 2018. Service connection for left shoulder strain is also granted.