Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for joint pain (arthralgia) to the right shoulder, left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee that is due to a diagnosable but medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness of unknown etiology. The Veteran's service in Southwest Asia is presumed to have caused his joint pain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection on appeal are remanded due to the need for additional development and examination. The issues include determining whether new evidence was received to reopen a claim, as well as evaluating various conditions such as tinnitus, rotator cuff disorders, arthritis, Gulf War syndrome, joint pain, headaches, sleep disturbances, allergic rhinitis, upper respiratory disorder, fatigue, skin disorder, knee tendonitis, ankle disorders, and others. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded to allow for further review and examination.

Service connection for left knee, right knee, left shoulder, and right shoulder disorders is denied.,Service connection for back disorder is denied as not caused or aggravated by service-connected hernia disability. Service connection for groin disorder is denied as separate from the Veteran’s service-connected hernia.

The Veteran's left shoulder arthritis is related to his service. The right shoulder disorder may be related to in-service activities, but further examination and evidence are needed.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his left shoulder degenerative joint disease is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The right shoulder disability claim, which includes service connection as secondary to the left shoulder condition, is also remanded.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain clarification on whether the Veteran's congenital absence of the bilateral pectoralis major with recurrent dislocations of both shoulders amounts to a defect or disease, and if it is a disease, whether there was superimposed injury or disease in service resulting in additional disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate examination reports and the need for additional medical opinions regarding his right shoulder, cervical spine, and dorsal strain disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to effective dates for service connection and TDIU, specifically regarding a left shoulder disorder.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for allergic rhinitis, increased ratings for right shoulder and left knee disabilities, and increased rating for hemorrhoids. The claim to reopen and grant service connection for low back disability was granted.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 30% effective from July 25, 2011. The right shoulder and right knee disabilities are each granted a separate 10% rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's current right shoulder disabilities may be related to service, but a new VA examination is needed to determine this.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and records. The Veteran is required to undergo examinations and obtain medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has found new and material evidence to support these claims. The cases are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing their request. The claim for a higher rating for left shoulder disability is remanded, and the claim for cervical spine disability is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to his service-connected left shoulder disability and if it was caused or aggravated by any of his musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and evaluations are needed to determine the nature, etiology, and severity of the Veteran's right shoulder disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and left hand DJD. The issues of service connection for these conditions have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold requirement for a schedular TDIU. However, due to his non-service-connected stroke and Alzheimer’s/dementia diagnoses, he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that remand for referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration is warranted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disorder and thoracic spine disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as related to in-service stressors. The Veteran's arthritis claim, including back, arm and shoulder conditions, is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded multiple claims for further development due to the Veteran not being properly notified of VA examinations related to his service connection and increased disability rating claims.