Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for nose bleeds, heart disability, sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral wrist disability due to insufficient development of evidence. The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints or treatment related to these conditions during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition, which has been rated at 30 percent since February 29, 2008, is granted. The rating is based on limitation of motion and the May 2017 VA examination findings.

The Veteran's left and right shoulder disabilities have been rated at 20 percent each, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder, bilateral wrist, low back, bilateral hip, left knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities. These conditions are deemed to be related to military service.

The Veteran's increased evaluation for degenerative changes of the left shoulder is being remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination and potential need for private medical records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability (secondary to left shoulder), and posttraumatic headache were all granted. The posttraumatic headache claim received a higher initial rating of 50 percent as of October 23, 2008.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder, right great toe, and left elbow disabilities. The decision is based on medical opinions provided by the Veteran's treating orthopedic surgeon.

The request to reopen the finally disallowed claim of entitlement to service connection for low back pain was denied.,The request to reopen the finally disallowed claim of entitlement to service connection for scars on left shoulder was denied. The request to reopen the finally disallowed claim of entitlement to service connection for scars on left upper chest was granted.

Your claims for service connection have been dismissed as you have withdrawn them.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder and lumbar disabilities, as well as secondary service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatica pain. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered to be at least in equipoise with the opinions against his claims, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic kidney disease and headaches, have been denied. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, but granted service connection for a left collar bone disability and left shoulder degenerative changes. The Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's right hip disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder are not service-connected. The cervical spine disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder have also not been established as service-connected.,Service connection for the Veteran’s psychiatric condition has been remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was granted a 20 percent rating effective March 30, 2012. The left shoulder and lumbosacral spine disabilities were denied increased ratings.

The Board has denied service connection for a skin disorder, left knee disorder, low back disorder, and left shoulder interstitial granuloma. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his claimed musculoskeletal disorders and hearing loss. The VA will need to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hip disability, left shoulder disability, low back disability, bilateral flat feet, bilateral eye disability (claimed as due to blunt trauma), and skin disability (pseudofolliculitis barbae).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied across the board. The Board found that none of his conditions met or approximated the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial disability rating for left shoulder, status post rotator cuff repair, is remanded due to inconsistencies in the November 2014 VA examination report and the need for a new examination.