Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for herniated disc and right radiculopathy, as well as residuals of right shoulder surgery. The Veteran's GERD is rated at 30 percent.,The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee strain with patellar osteophyte formation, and a left ankle disability are remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension is remanded for a new VA examination and opinion. Her increased ratings for neck and shoulder disabilities are also remanded due to the need for an assessment of flare-ups.

The Veteran's high cholesterol is not a disability for VA benefits purposes.,The Veteran's hepatitis C has no associated symptoms and does not meet the criteria for any compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Codes 7345 or 7354.,The Veteran’s scar, left side of face, does not meet the criteria for an increased rating as it is not manifested by visible or palpable tissue loss or characteristics of disfigurement.,The Veteran’s scar, left thigh, does not meet the criteria for any compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7801.,The Veteran’s hyperpigmented scars over the right shoulder and right clavicle area do not meet the criteria for an increased rating as they are not manifested by visible or palpable tissue loss or characteristics of disfigurement.,The Veteran’s painful scars, head to toe, do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent as they are not manifested by five or more unstable or painful scars.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder, arm, elbow, neck, vision, hypertension, skin disorder, headaches (secondary to tinnitus), and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The remand requires further development such as obtaining medical records, scheduling examinations, and making attempts to obtain a nexus between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability and right eye condition due to issues with scheduling an examination, as well as the need to issue a statement of the case regarding the right eye condition.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder, cervical spine, and left hip disabilities. The right hip disability is still pending as the remand directive regarding its service connection was not completed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and needs to obtain updated medical records, schedule a VA examination, and provide an adequate statement of reasons or bases for its denial.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left heel pain, left shoulder pain, left hand numbness, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded due to lack of current diagnoses. The initial compensable ratings for right knee patellofemoral syndrome, bilateral eye pterygium, hypertension, and right shoulder pain are also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral upper extremity disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current disabilities to military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities, as they are related to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to insufficient evidence and needs a new examination for proper evaluation of the Veteran's shoulder conditions.

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

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) but denied service connection for a right shoulder disability. The denial of the right shoulder disability is based on the lack of evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by active service, while the grant of PTSD is supported by medical evidence that links current symptoms to an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was granted a 10% rating prior to March 13, 2015. The condition is rated based on painful motion.

The Veteran's left shoulder tendonitis is granted a 20% rating, right eye disability remains at 10%, and hemorrhoids are granted a non-compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorders and left shoulder disability did not begin during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The appeal is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the nature and etiology of his cervical spine disability, bilateral shoulder and arm pain, numbness of the left pointer finger, right leg pain, and lumbar spine disability. The claims are also being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for renal cell carcinoma and lytic lesions of the cervical spine, left hip, lumbar spine, right shoulder, and skull as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected renal cell carcinoma.

The Board has determined that new examinations are needed for the Veteran's service-connected pain disorder with depression, right knee DJD, cervical spine disability, and migraine headaches with vertigo. The claims of service connection for left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and PTSD have also been remanded.

The Veteran's left shoulder and low back disabilities have been rated, but the current ratings are less than what he claims. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the severity of these conditions.