Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's shoulder disabilities and one issue regarding TDIU. The claims for increased ratings will be reconsidered, and an SSOC must be issued.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional medical review, examination, and opinion regarding her service connection claims. The issues include tonsillitis, left shoulder disability, urinary incontinence, thoracolumbar strain, headaches, right knee disability, and right foot hallux valgus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, shin splints, shoulder disorders, frostbite, psychiatric conditions, traumatic brain injury, headaches, wrist, hip, ankle, knee, elbow, little finger, plantar fasciitis, joint pain, back pain, neck pain, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, skin disorder, and eye problems.

The Veteran's left shoulder impingement syndrome with bursitis and degenerative arthritis has not been manifested by limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side, so his current 20% rating for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of left knee is granted, as are his claims for secondary service connection for right knee and lumbosacral strain disabilities. The Veteran's left shoulder disability claim was denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence is not adequate for evaluation purposes and remands the case for a new examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded several issues for further examination and opinion, including right shoulder, low back, bilateral knee, right foot ingrown toenails, sinus disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of a relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim for an increased rating higher than 20 percent for left shoulder strain. The claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as for right shoulder and left knee DJD, were granted. The cases for entitlement to increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and right knee chronic strain with arthritis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the left shoulder, right shoulder, left hip, right hip, and left knee as secondary to service-connected right knee disability due to a lack of an opinion addressing whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by the service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection as the Veteran died before a decision was made.

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder condition due to lack of evidence of current disability. The appeal for sleep apnea is remanded and the Veteran's claim will be evaluated based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and unemployability due to his service-connected right shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, and radiculopathies of the lower extremities are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for joint pain and sleep disturbance due to undiagnosed illness or secondary to a service-connected disability. The Veteran's current joint pain is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder condition, right hip condition, and low back condition due to lack of current disability evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and restoration of ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine, right shoulder, and left wrist disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting new examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations, requiring further evaluations and opinions.

The Board has determined that VA examinations are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities, as there is insufficient competent medical evidence on file for the Secretary to make a decision.

The Board denied service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, neuropathy, bronchial asthma, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions during the appeal period.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right shoulder disability and thoracolumbar spine disability due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA is required to obtain new treatment records and schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and remanded the issue of service connection for right shoulder condition.