Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's tinea cruris and herpes zoster were granted service connection. The Board also found that the evidence was at least in equipoise for his other conditions, including right ear hearing loss disability, costochondritis, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, psoriasis, heart disability, hypertension, IBS, cholecystectomy, and thyroid disability.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left knee disability, a left shoulder disability, a low back disability, and radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including cervical spine disorder, right and left arm and shoulder disorders, metatarsalgia, and calluses of the bilateral great toes.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and migraine headaches has been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left shoulder disability with arthritis has been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, right hip, left hip, right leg, and left leg disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The cervical spine and shoulder disabilities are denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of trauma with strain right shoulder, residuals of trauma with cervical spine degenerative disease, and residuals of trauma with headaches. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's left shoulder disability and increased his index finger disability to 10 percent. The service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea was reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a skin condition is granted. The claims for service connection for right shoulder bursitis and neck condition are denied, and the case is remanded for further development regarding PTSD and MDD.

The Veteran's claims for left wrist disorder, petition to reopen right wrist pain, and asthma rating are dismissed. The lower back and right shoulder disorders' service connection petitions are reopened.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and requires additional opinions to determine if the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is related to service, and whether his bilateral hearing loss began in service. The claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between his current condition and active duty service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, characterized by limited motion and stiffness, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability and neck injury (to include as secondary to a left shoulder disability) need further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to insufficient evidence regarding his right shoulder and arm condition, as well as his intervertebral disc syndrome with multilevel degenerative disc disease with chronic thoracic spine sprain. The VA is required to provide a medical examination and opinion in order to make a determination on these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions due to incomplete examinations and lack of entrance examination prior to the Veteran's second period of active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, low back disability, stress fractures in the legs and feet, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) due to outstanding evidence and additional development being required.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and umbilical hernia have been reopened. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions. Other issues are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right hand disability, cervical spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, carpal tunnel syndrome, and right wrist disability. The Veteran is also required to provide additional non-VA treatment records and Worker’s Compensation claim records.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, a pulmonary disability related to asbestos exposure, and PTSD have been granted. Service connection is also granted for a left shoulder disability (psoriatic arthritis). The Veteran's claim for COPD with asbestosis has been reopened due to new evidence.

The claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability is reopened due to new evidence received since the March 1980 Board decision. The Veteran's current diagnosis and in-service injury support the need for a VA examination to determine if his right shoulder disability is related to service.