Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for shoulder, back, and neck disabilities but finds that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, including his left upper trunk plexopathy, is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and a higher rating for his right knee disability, as well as the TDIU claim, have been dismissed due to withdrawal of these claims by the Veteran prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's appeal is granted for increased ratings in various areas, including coronary artery disease and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The reduction of the rating for left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy from 10 percent to noncompensable was found proper.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left shoulder disability and obstructive sleep apnea has been remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training, as well as to obtain updated VA treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and thus denied her claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if he has a current right shoulder disorder related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right shoulder disability had its onset in service and grants service connection for a right shoulder rotator cuff tendinosis with partial tear.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's service connection claims, particularly his left arm and shoulder disorders. The Veteran is also required to provide any additional relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that his current sleep apnea is related to service or a service-connected disability. His posttraumatic stress disorder has been rated at 70% since August 11, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression, chronic headaches, and hematuria are related to his service-connected conditions. The remaining issues of service connection for left arm disability, right arm disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, was granted. The claims for service connection for disabilities of the left hip and shoulder were denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder arthrosis and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between his service-connected left knee disability and his fall. The right hip condition is not considered directly related to service or secondary to the left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine disorder, bilateral shoulder disorders, bilateral hip disorders, bilateral ankle disorders, and bilateral knee disorders have been granted a 100% evaluation effective August 27, 2015.,The Veteran's service-connected left and right shoulder osteopenia, left and right hip osteopenia with synovitis, right knee osteopenia/strain based on instability, and left knee osteopenia/strain based on instability have been granted a 20% evaluation effective September 10, 2014.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of parvovirus B19 infection and Eustachian tube dysfunction are granted. The Board finds that the conditions were incurred in active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including degenerative joint disease, is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain adequate medical opinions detailing the nature and etiology of the appellant's disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability, cervical radiculitis, and bilateral upper radiculopathy are not related to active service or any incident of service. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased evaluations for his residual scars of the left knee, service connection for a rectal/anal disorder (including hemorrhoids, anal fissure and anal stricture) and pilonidal cyst, and service connection for a right shoulder disorder. The claim to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also denied.