Shoulder — all decisions

The Board granted service connection for a lower back condition and tinnitus, denied a higher rating for PTSD, and remanded the remaining claims for further development.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and a higher rating of 40 percent for right shoulder degenerative changes, but remanded the claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis.

The Board remands the case to obtain complete service treatment records, including Reserve STRs, as they may contain evidence pertinent to the Veteran's claims.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's left and right shoulder strains, as well as a 10 percent disability rating for his left and right ankle sprains.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left shoulder, chest pressure and pain (to include bradycardia), and heart murmur due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted a 50 percent disability rating for migraines and denied increased ratings for dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. The remaining claims for service connection were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities to obtain additional medical nexus opinions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right shoulder, and right wrist due to a need for additional development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and scar due to an inadequate VA examination opinion.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis of the right shoulder, and osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis of the right knee prior to October 25, 2023. The claim for a left knee disability was also granted based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities to obtain adequate medical opinions addressing direct and secondary service connection, including aggravation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and left shoulder strain, finding that his symptoms did not more closely approximate a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left knee, right wrist, left wrist, lung condition, mental health condition (anxiety and depression), thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, plantar fasciitis, and migraine due to a lack of evidence supporting current disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for left cervical radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, and a compensable rating for Hashimoto thyroiditis. The Veteran's asthma, non-allergic rhinitis, and right shoulder scars were rated as initially granted or denied based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied a rating higher than 60 percent for heart disease and a rating higher than 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss, but restored the 60 percent rating for gout effective June 1, 2020. The claims for ratings higher than 30 percent for right shoulder disability were remanded.

The Board remands the matter for a new medical examination to address the Veteran's reported flare-ups and functional impairment, as the previous VA examination was found inadequate.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and assistance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right knee condition, and service connection for back, left shoulder, left knee conditions, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbosacral musculoligamentous strain, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, right ankle sprain, and allergic rhinitis. Service connection was granted for eczema (claimed as dermatitis) but denied for sinusitis, cirrhosis of the liver, cervical strain, left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, and left ankle strain.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder condition as there is no current diagnosis and no evidence of functional impairment.