Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent since September 7, 2011. The Board finds the evidence shows that his symptoms and functional impairment more nearly approximate to an increased 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5201.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities due to additional development being needed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disorder, PTSD due to military sexual trauma, degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claim for sleep apnea is also remanded.

Service connection is granted for a left upper extremity nerve disability. The Veteran's initial increased ratings for his other service-connected disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to conflicting evidence regarding current right shoulder disability and insufficient medical opinions on the etiology of basal cell carcinoma. The Veteran's tension headaches are also being examined for a possible increase in severity.

The Veteran's right shoulder subluxation disability was incurred in service due to aggravation of a pre-existing condition, and the Board finds that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that it was not aggravated by service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left clavicle or shoulder condition due to new and material evidence. The remaining issues are remanded for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder as there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury, no symptoms reported during service or within one year after separation, and no current diagnosis. The Veteran's lay statements were deemed insufficient to establish the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete service records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder and ankle injuries as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral shoulders is denied. The claims for initial ratings of 20% for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are granted, effective from August 6, 2013.

The Veteran's left shoulder residuals and degenerative arthritis are rated at 20 percent from February 27, 2013. The Veteran's multilevel degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 10 percent from April 23, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a right shoulder condition.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not service-connected, and his left ankle DJD warrants a 10% rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, PTSD, and hypertension. The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability is related to his military service, his PTSD is linked to in-service stressors, and his hypertension does not appear to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for gunshot wound residuals, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence to support the claims. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder disability from July 1, 2015 due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection is based on new and material evidence.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities are granted, but his tongue cancer is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to in-service exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection have been remanded due to the failure of VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his left shoulder, left knee, TBI, radiculopathy, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further development. The issues include PTSD, depression, hypertension, sinusitis, bilateral pes planus, right hand chemical burn, left knee injury, right tennis elbow and arm pain, bilateral shoulder pain, contusion to the neck, and residuals of a left ankle injury.