Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's need for aid and attendance and housebound status. The AOJ is instructed to obtain VA treatment records, arrange for an aid and attendance examination, and provide opinions on whether the Veteran needs regular aid and assistance or is permanently housebound due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, back disorder, right foot disorder, sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran was scheduled to appear at a hearing but failed to show up without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities including left shoulder, right shoulder, back, left knee, and bilateral eye conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses or functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's right shoulder limitation of motion and Muscle Group IV injury, as well as a need for an examination to determine if there is muscle damage associated with his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to report for VA examinations and because of an earlier effective date claim. The claims will be remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder, bilateral leg disorder, and upper GI disorder (GERD) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for left shoulder disability, back pain, cervical spine disability, right ankle disability, and lung disability. The remand requires further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for SLAP of the right shoulder was granted effective June 16, 2015. The initial compensable rating for IBS prior to June 1, 2016 and chronic interstitial cystitis were also granted.,The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent from November 21, 2017 forward and the right hand CTS is denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder spasms resulted in no worse than noncompensable limitation of motion to above shoulder level, with pain. The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the period prior to March 3, 2016 and denied a higher rating thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The hearing loss, shoulder, cervical spine, and right shoulder disabilities may be related to service, but further examination is needed to determine this. Headaches and carpal tunnel syndromes require opinion regarding their relationship to service or other conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied in October 2003 and is now being reopened, but new evidence does not support the claim.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus has been denied as there is no evidence linking it to military service.

This decision grants initial compensable ratings for gout and degenerative arthritis, right ankle prior to April 8, 2016, and from April 8, 2016. It also grants an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for gout and degenerative arthritis, left ankle. The decision denies initial compensable ratings for degenerative arthritis, left shoulder prior to April 8, 2016, and from April 8, 2016, as well as a higher rating for right shoulder rotator cuff tear with degenerative arthritis.,Entitlement to an increased initial rating in excess of 30 percent for residual scars, pilonidal cyst excision, low back, coccyx area, right shoulder x4, and bilateral feet is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, increased ratings for various knee and ankle disabilities, a compensable rating for bilateral pes planus, and an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for hypothyroidism. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development including VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and remanded the issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on various conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded several issues including service connection claims.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for surgical scars, right ankle prior to May 8, 2017 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation at any point during the appeal period. For the evaluation in excess of 20 percent as of May 8, 2017, the Veteran's right ankle scars were evaluated under Diagnostic Code 7804 due to three or more painful or unstable scars. However, the Board noted that a supplemental statement of the case was not issued and there is no examination indicating the severity of the right ankle scars following surgery.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip and knee disabilities, as well as a left shoulder disability due to lack of consideration of his lay statements regarding in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims. The appeal regarding a schedular rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar strain was also dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of left shoulder condition, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a back disability.