Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete medical records. The main reasons for remanding are for new examinations, especially concerning the lumbar spine and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is not related to service and did not manifest within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's cervical spine or neck disability is not related to service and did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals to establish clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the June 1997 and July 2007 RO rating decisions that denied service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease and bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, respectively. The claims were based on direct service connection without any presumption or secondary relationship.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal of the issues regarding service connection for left shoulder and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol and cannabis abuse is rated at a 70 percent disability rating since March 21, 2011.,Service connection for left shoulder strain and tendinitis, right shoulder strain and tendinitis, and lumbar strain are granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for right shoulder disability and acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's right shoulder condition may be related to service, but a VA examination is needed to confirm this. For his psychiatric disorder, an additional examination is required as the current one did not consider all stressors reported by the Veteran.

The Veteran's left shoulder impingement syndrome has been rated at 10 percent since March 2013. The Board finds that additional development is required due to possible worsening of the condition and remands the case for further examination.

The Board has denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and insomnia due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred during active duty. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 27, 2012 for the award of service connection for right shoulder full thickness tear of supraspinatus tendon is denied. The earliest possible effective date allowed by law is August 27, 2012.

The Board denied initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for bilateral shoulder disabilities, lumbar strain, degenerative disc disease (cervical spine), chondromalacia of the left knee, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, and right ankle disability. The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant higher ratings based on limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip and right shoulder disabilities, as well as a compensable rating for gastric ulcer status-post vagotomy. The case will be remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including shoulder, back, neck, hip, knee, foot, otosclerosis, tinnitus, heart, prostate, thyroid, diabetes, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The reasons given are that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include asthma and bronchitis. It also denied increased ratings for left shoulder strain and degenerative joint disease, cervical strain, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's chronic left shoulder rotator cuff tendinopathy is granted as incurred in service. The right knee and right foot disorders are denied as not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical records and a VA addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's right shoulder condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder injuries, including a rotator cuff tear and strain, impingement, and osteochondroma, are related to his in-service injury. The decision is based on reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and a genitourinary condition, but has remanded the issues of service connection for a left shoulder condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and review of his treatment records.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, but no more, for the period on appeal. The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s pain and weakness limited his arm movement to shoulder level.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence indicating possible aggravation of existing conditions by a service-connected condition, and for an updated VA examination.