Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, finding no current disability or evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for consideration of additional evidence, including a VA examination report and updated treatment records. The claim will be reconsidered with this new information.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including bilateral hip disorder, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left knee disorder, have been denied as secondary to his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for varicose veins.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate reasoning in the examination reports and incomplete medical records. The Veteran will be provided with updated VA examinations to determine if his disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations to assess the current severity of his left shoulder disability and bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA records and arranging for the Veteran to be examined by an orthopedist to assess the current severity of his service-connected right shoulder and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left shoulder condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and panic disorder, has been granted. The Veteran was diagnosed with labral tear with degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder during his military service and continues to experience symptoms related to this diagnosis. His other mental health conditions are also considered as part of his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shoulder, hip, and hand disabilities with effective dates of November 1, 2006, October 27, 2010, respectively.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including right hand, right shoulder, left shoulder, left wrist, neck, and back disabilities, were denied as the evidence did not show a current disability.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at War Memorial Hospital on April 8, 2014 are approved as the treatment was deemed necessary due to an emergent condition and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities. The Veteran's pre-existing shoulder disabilities were at least as likely as not aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of spinal surgery and left shoulder disability have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, depression, recurrent dislocation of the right shoulder, and degenerative arthritis remains pending. The Board finds that VA medical opinions are necessary to decide those claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, erectile dysfunction, and trigeminal neuralgia as secondary to his service-connected multiple sclerosis. The Veteran was not granted any compensable evaluation for his trigeminal neuralgia.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete compliance with a previous remand directive and failure to obtain medical records from Carraway Methodist Medical Center. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is found to be caused by service-connected spondylosis deformans, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, and he is now entitled to a temporary total disability rating for convalescent purposes following surgery for fungus infection of the feet from March 1, 2010 to April 1, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and service connection is granted.,Service connection is also granted for a right knee disability. The Veteran's left shoulder disability remains at the initial 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's dysthymic disorder to include OCD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, which reflects significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI is related to his in-service parachute accident, and service connection for this condition is granted. Other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bulging discs in the cervical spine and reopened claims for claw toe deformity, bilateral post-operative, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability. The examiner found no clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's claw toe condition pre-existed service.