Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder, denied increased ratings for right knee degenerative joint disease and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, denied effective dates prior to May 22, 2015 for service connection of right ankle arthritis and left leg pain (rheumatoid radiculopathy), and remanded issues related to depression, service connection for left ankle arthritis, and effective dates prior to August 29, 2014 for increased rating of right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Board also denied an effective date prior to January 26, 2018 for a 50 percent disability rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and degenerative changes of the left great toe, denied service connection for left ankle arthritis, and remanded issues related to depression.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, nerve damage, hypertension, headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, a bilateral eye disability; and a right shoulder disability have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including disc disease, is denied because the condition did not manifest during service and there is no evidence of an in-service injury or event. The current condition is related to post-service injuries.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected surgical scars, lumbar spine disability, and left shoulder disability are not rated appropriately. The claims for increased ratings are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tear and glenohumeral arthrosis, finding it related to an in-service injury. The other issues are remanded.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,There is no evidence of current left lower extremity radiculopathy or right lower extremity radiculopathy, and the claim for these conditions is denied.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition due to undiagnosed illness is not granted as there are no objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability in his right shoulder.,The Veteran's current rating for insomnia remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for neck condition, middle shoulder neurological disability, and right ankle condition have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for back condition has been granted with new evidence submitted since the June 1988 rating decision. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and bipolar disorder) has also been reopened due to new evidence, but a final determination on this issue is pending.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent, and a separate rating of 20 percent for recurrent dislocation prior to May 25, 2017, has been granted. The appeals for increased ratings are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder and hip disabilities, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability.,There is no evidence showing any shoulder or hip conditions during service. The Veteran's current shoulder and hip disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a connection between her current condition and military service.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, finding that his assertions of in-service onset were credible and casting doubt on any medical opinions to the contrary. The other issues are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, right shoulder disorder, and lumbar spine disorder as the evidence did not show a current disability that began during or was otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left wrist, right shoulder, right arm pain, left arm pain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (low back disability), left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the severity of his left wrist condition, nature and etiology of his right shoulder and arm disabilities, and nature and etiology of his low back and knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum opinion addressing prior range of motion and functional loss due to pain.

The Veteran's urinary disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The skin rash claim is denied. Bilateral elbow and shoulder disorders are not related to service or the service-connected cervical spine disability.

All claims for service connection are remanded. The Veteran's right shoulder strain is related to his PTSD and shortening of the right leg.

The Veteran's service connection claim for DJD of the lumbar spine is granted. Claims for other conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and new evidence. The Veteran's conditions include hypertension, gout of the feet, anemia, splenomegaly, onychomycosis, psychiatric disability, left shoulder condition, right thumb disability, left knee disability, right foot plantar fasciitis, and a sebaceous cyst.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right shoulder and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is requested to provide additional medical records, including those from VA and private providers.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder is dismissed as he wishes to withdraw his appeal.