Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder arthritis, right shoulder impingement with rotator cuff tendinitis, vision condition, and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded both issues for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left shoulder strain, cervical spine disability (neck pain and stiffness), lumbar spine disability (lower back pain), left ankle sprain, and right ankle sprain due to lack of medical documentation of continued care from 1994 to 2012. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD with anxiety, left knee disorder, and tension headaches secondary to tinnitus have been granted. The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder and sleep disorder claims remain denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and a lung condition, claimed as due to asbestos exposure. The Veteran's VA treatment records show in-service and post-service shoulder complaints and a current diagnosis of shoulder pain. For his lung condition claim, additional medical evidence is needed to determine if he currently has a lung disability related to service exposure to asbestos.

The Veteran's PTSD and right shoulder disability have been granted 100% and 40% ratings, respectively, effective September 21, 2018. The initial rating for PTSD prior to September 21, 2018 is remanded, as well as the initial rating for Right Shoulder Disability prior to September 21, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low blood cell count, respiratory disorder, swelling of the extremities, back disorder, tuberculosis, osteoporosis, prostate cancer, bladder disorder, IBS (bowel disorder), dental disorder, and schizophrenia have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, right knee disability (claimed as knee pain), left shoulder disability, ear pain, and sinus pain due to incomplete development of evidence and need for further medical examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spondylosis with degenerative joint disease and rotator cuff tear, left shoulder (minor) due to insufficient opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder is currently rated at 40 percent, effective January 7, 2015. The right shoulder strain and tendinopathy associated with the right knee ACL-R s/p-R are currently rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since April 1, 2015. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his service-connected conditions make it impossible for him to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, low back disability, and left knee disability. The claims are remanded to allow for further development including examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and thus grants entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial.,Service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted as secondary to service-connected bilateral knee chondromalacia.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left shoulder strain status-post arthroscopic repair of posterior labral tear is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left shoulder disability (prior to January 28, 2015) and right shoulder disability were remanded due to the need for further development. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for left shoulder disability and right shoulder disability.