Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the service connection claims, as there are limited VA treatment records from the relevant time period. The Veteran's disabilities have been treated at the Leavenworth VA Medical Center since 2001.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a back disability and bilateral knee and left shoulder disabilities. The effective dates are set at February 13, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder sprain, lower back muscle strain, left knee osteoarthritis, and headaches. The claim of PTSD was granted with new and material evidence.,PTSD was reopened but the claim remains pending as it has not been fully adjudicated.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion.,Service connection has been granted for left shoulder and lumbar spondylosis disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and sleep apnea, finding no new and material evidence. The claims were not reopened.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right elbow, left shoulder, and right shoulder conditions due to a lack of contact information and need for additional examinations.

All appeals related to service connection and effective dates have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.

The claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability has been reopened and granted. The claims for left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, left hip condition, and left leg and knee condition have all been denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a higher initial rating of 70 percent. The low back disability for the period prior to October 1, 2010 is remanded due to inadequate examination. The right knee disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection is established.,Service connection for a bilateral hip disability is denied due to lack of in-service injury or chronicity.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing current disability. The claims for left shoulder DJD, impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear and bursitis, right rotator cuff injury with bursitis following surgical convalescence, and right knee post-operative chondromalacia are remanded as additional examination is needed.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted service connection, and effective May 10, 2012. The rating for his lumbar spine disability is also granted on that date. However, the issues of increased ratings for shoulder strains, lower extremity radiculopathy, left ankle sprain, cervical strain, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded as new VA examinations are needed.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 10 percent prior to July 19, 2017, and 20 percent beginning July 19, 2017. The Board denied an increased rating for the condition.

The Board has denied service connection for right shoulder and lower back disabilities, finding that the Veteran did not have a chronic disease entity in service or attributable to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder AC joint arthropathy and entitlement to a TDIU rating due to unresolved issues regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims.,Obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran was denied entitlement to TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU on schedular basis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for a right shoulder disorder should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's hypertension and back disorder are granted service connection, while the TBI claim is denied. The claims for complications from transvaginal mesh implantation, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right shoulder scar, were found to be of such nature and severity as to preclude his participation in substantially gainful employment prior to May 12, 2016. TDIU is granted effective June 1, 2013.