Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is remanded due to the lack of a sufficient VA medical opinion, which was required by previous Board and Court directives. The AOJ must ensure that the correct SSOC is sent to the Veteran.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for additional development to ensure compliance with prior directives, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine condition and bilateral AC joint degenerative joint disease, finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his right shoulder disability. The Board finds that the existing medical evidence is insufficient to make an informed decision regarding this issue.

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

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disorders due to inadequate medical opinions addressing the theories of direct and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's right shoulder RC and panlabral tear is granted a 20 percent evaluation for the period prior to June 15, 2017. The case is remanded for further review of his thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine, bilateral shoulders, and bilateral wrists. The examiner is asked to provide detailed information about range of motion tests and any additional functional loss due to pain during flare-ups or with repeated use over time.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to ensure substantial compliance with the prior remand directives. The Veteran's service connection claims for various shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand disabilities are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to her exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and requests additional evidence or medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected right shoulder and wrist disabilities, as well as his TDIU claim due to incomplete examination reports. The AOJ must ensure that any new examinations comply with VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and lumbar spine disorders due to incomplete medical opinions that did not address the Veteran's reported history of lifting toolboxes during ACDUTRA.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, cervical spondylolisthesis, right shoulder acromioclavicular degenerative hypertrophy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including bilateral deafness, a bilateral hip disorder, a neck disorder, a bilateral shoulder disorder, a back disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, a bilateral ankle disorder, a bilateral arm disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome of the bilateral hands, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder), hypertensive cardiovascular disease, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, a bilateral elbow disorder, and a bilateral foot disorder were not caused by or related to his active duty service.,The Veteran's claimed conditions did not manifest within one year after separation from service.

The Board has found that the VA medical opinions provided were inadequate and remanded for addendum etiology opinions. The claims are now being returned to obtain new opinions addressing the likely etiology of the Veteran's neck, shoulder, and back disorders.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is granted a rating of 30 percent prior to August 3, 2021 and a rating of 40 percent from August 3, 2021. The Veteran's right knee disability does not meet the criteria for a higher level of rating. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not warrant an increase in SMC.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted, effective May 12, 2010. The issues of increased ratings for COPD, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, and bilateral flat feet are dismissed.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain is rated at 20 percent, and his left varicocele with BPH warrants a separate rating of 20 percent. The Veteran does not have any service connection issues related to exposure or the PACT Act.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain medical records and provide an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's shoulder disabilities. The right ankle disability case remains denied as a rating greater than 10 percent is not warranted.