Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection and compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for bilateral shoulder impingement syndrome, finding that the current disability was not related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the inextricability of his acquired psychiatric disorder with other conditions. The VA will need to determine if these secondary conditions are related to his service-connected condition or another diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's left knee and left shoulder disabilities have been rated at 10% since the applicable rating periods. The appeals for higher ratings are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since December 12, 2011. The Board has determined that the criteria for TDIU are met as of this date.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,For the period prior to November 9, 2016, his sinusitis was not compensably rated. For the period after November 9, 2016, a 30 percent rating is granted for sinusitis.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition and related scar are remanded due to lack of STRs and need for an examination to determine etiology.,The Veteran's back condition is remanded as VA needs to provide an opinion on the likely etiology of his current diagnosed back disability, including consideration of in-service duties.,The Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and need for addendum opinions.,The Veteran's flat feet are remanded because a VA examiner has not addressed whether preexisting flat feet were aggravated by service.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is remanded as the threshold for disability was not met in his previous examination. The issues of right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss are inextricably intertwined.,The Veteran's right hand middle finger laceration residuals are remanded due to potential missing records from hospitalization during service.,The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is remanded as the Veteran asserts an increase in severity since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, as there has been a material change in his symptoms since his last evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for shoulder, back, bilateral knee, and right ankle disabilities as there were no current diagnoses of these conditions at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder and low back disorders are granted. The claim for bilateral knee disorder is denied.

The appeal regarding service connection for a right knee disability is dismissed. The Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder and lumbosacral spine disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating under Diagnostic Code 5201. The Board finds that his current range of motion does not warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's duodenal ulcer is currently rated at 10 percent. The most recent VA examination did not show any incapacitating episodes or other complications, and an EGD was deemed unnecessary as the condition is 'currently quiescent.'

The Veteran's service connection claim for allergic rhinitis and his increased rating claim for right shoulder rotator cuff strain were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for allergic rhinitis, as there was no competent medical opinion linking it to service. For the right shoulder rotator cuff strain, the Veteran's range of motion did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left shoulder condition, shoulder impingement with rotator cuff tendinopathy. The evidence did not support a finding that this condition was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his right shoulder, left shoulder, lumbar spine, IBS, bilateral ankles, and left knee disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder degenerative joint disease and left rotator cuff tendonitis due to new evidence indicating that the Veteran's conditions may now meet VA criteria for benefits. The Veteran will need a new examination to determine if his hearing loss meets the regulatory requirement of hearing loss, and a new examination is needed to assess the current severity of his left shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder, back, and neck disorders did not begin during service or are otherwise related to in-service injuries.,Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, and he requires the care or assistance of another person on a regular basis due to his disabilities. The Board has granted TDIU and special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board denied the Veteran's reopened claims for service connection of a heart disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder as new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the April 2017 grant of service connection. The Board has also granted a TDIU based on his PTSD. Service connection for Right Shoulder Disorder and Right Upper Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy remains pending as additional evidence and clarification are needed.