Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left shoulder disability and chronic left wrist strain require additional medical examination to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including broken right fibula, broken right tibia, right-leg disorder, and triple arthrodesis of the right ankle. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's left finger fracture is not rated compensably, as the disability does not meet criteria for amputation or limitation of motion.,Prior to April 13, 2016, a noncompensable rating was assigned for his right foot fracture due to moderate malunion or nonunion. After April 13, 2016, he is rated at 10 percent for the same condition.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability prior to April 13, 2016, did not meet criteria for ankylosis, limitation of motion, malunion or nonunion. After April 13, 2016, he is rated at 20 percent due to moderate impairment.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability prior to April 13, 2016, did not meet criteria for ankylosis, limitation of motion, malunion or nonunion. After April 13, 2016, he is rated at 20 percent due to moderate impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but denied secondary service connection claims for bilateral hip disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder. The left ear hearing loss rating remains unchanged.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, ankle, and back disabilities as the Veteran did not have any of these conditions during his active duty or at any point during the appeal period.,Service connection was granted for left knee arthritis and right knee arthritis. The Board found that the current diagnoses were related to service due to a significant progression of the left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.,There is no medical evidence showing the Veteran has any diagnosed conditions related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder degenerative arthritis, bicipital tendon tear, and shoulder impingement syndrome, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative changes. The appeal regarding hypertension is remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection and he is awarded a 30% rating for his left shoulder disability.

The Board has decided that an examination is needed to determine the current impairment of the Veteran's right shoulder disability, and thus remands the case for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left shoulder tendonitis with degenerative changes is dismissed.,Her claim of service connection for bilateral hip disorders, to include osteoarthritis and joint pains, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a skin disorder (leukoderma) is denied as it cannot be attributed to any specific exposure event during her military service.,Her claim of service connection for jaundice due to medications taken for a service-connected condition is also denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left shoulder strain claims are granted. The increased rating for the left shoulder strain claim is denied, but the service connection claims for diastasis recti, umbilical hernia, sleep disorder (including insomnia and loss of sleep), and posttraumatic stress disorder are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability. Service connection was denied for left shoulder disability and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including right shoulder DJD, left wrist DJD with limitation of motion, left shoulder DJD, back disorder, right eye disorder, gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as gastritis), skin disorder (claimed as rash on groin), diabetes mellitus, and pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression, cervical spine conditions, and left shoulder injury, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. The right shoulder disorder and lumbosacral strain issues are remanded.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened and granted. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claims, including treatment records indicating a diagnosis of PTSD. Secondary service connection was also granted for GERD. Other issues were remanded for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for post-operative total left hip replacement, a left knee condition (claimed as a left leg condition), bilateral shoulder conditions (claimed as secondary to non-service connected left hip and left leg conditions), and a right hip condition (claimed as secondary to non-service connected left hip and left leg conditions).

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, sleep apnea, left shoulder condition, low back condition, bilateral hip condition, bilateral shin splints, and right thigh condition (secondary to low back) have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, previously characterized as headaches, was reopened. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of this claim. Service connection is granted for bilateral knee disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, right hand disorder, and back disorder. However, service connection for residuals of flesh wound of the right leg is denied.