Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% since August 24, 2012. The left-shoulder disorder claim remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and he is granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depressive disorder), right shoulder strain, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury. The claim for service connection for a rash remains pending as new evidence was received but does not establish the current condition.

The Veteran's attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity and cervical spine degenerative joint disease are granted. The Board has remanded the issues of bilateral shoulder disabilities, bilateral knee condition, and low back pain for further examination.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder, thoracolumbar spine, bilateral foot disability, and TMJ conditions. The claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further clarification of the medical opinions regarding whether any currently manifested left shoulder disability was incurred in or aggravated during service, or is otherwise related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder condition due to new and material evidence, but the claim is still pending as it was remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from June 29, 2009. The Board denied an increased rating as the evidence does not show that the disability warrants a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, right shoulder disability, lower back disability, bilateral hip disabilities, left ankle disability, and bilateral knee disabilities. The effective date of these grants is July 18, 2018. However, the TDIU claim remains pending as it was not formally filed in conjunction with other claims.

The Board has determined that new material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities. The reopened claims are granted, but the service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records related to his shoulder and knee disabilities. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder arthritis and cervical spine disorder, finding that these conditions were at least as likely as not aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. The issue of TDIU prior to August 15, 2011 is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a right shoulder disorder, and thus requires further examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent prior to May 2, 2017. Since then, a higher rating of 20 percent has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of right shoulder impingement syndrome, finding no new and material evidence that would establish a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to the need for additional medical examinations and information from the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for increased ratings for left (dominant) shoulder tendonitis. The case is being remanded to schedule an additional examination.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected impingement syndrome of the right shoulder was increased to 20 percent in June 2015. The appeal is still pending as the requested increase did not fully satisfy the appellant’s request for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including right hand disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and right leg disability. The Board also ordered a remand for additional examinations regarding lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, depressive disorder, hypertension, heart disability, an earlier effective date for service connection of left lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU. The Veteran's claims are also inextricably intertwined with the issues being remanded.

The Veteran's sleep disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability. His left shoulder scar remains at a 10 percent rating, and diabetes mellitus continues with a 20 percent rating. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran should receive a higher rating for his left shoulder disability, but remands this issue due to new evidence. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is related to the increased rating of the left shoulder.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and the identification of outstanding private treatment records.