Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various shoulder, knee, and cervical spine disabilities have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.,Service connection has also not been granted for tinnitus due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The appeals for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the right inguinal hernia scar rating and service connection for various disabilities. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to a lack of recent VA examinations and potential procedural errors.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for bursitis and arthralgia of multiple joints, CFS, mild obstructive airflow disease, and an acquired psychiatric disorder for purposes of eligibility for treatment under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 due to his withdrawal at a hearing. Service connection was granted for a lumbar spine disorder, rash of the shoulders and armpits, migraines, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression). The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for adjustment disorder and tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, left ankle disability, left foot disability, and TBI. The appeals for these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an eye condition, left hip disability, left leg disability, left shoulder disability, heart disability, and osteoarthritis has been reopened. However, the Board found no current disabilities related to these conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome with degenerative arthritis is granted a 40 percent rating, effective October 13, 2016.,Left knee patellofemoral syndrome issues are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for left shoulder injury and low back injury as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder strain, lumbosacral strain, right knee disability (including right knee strain, degenerative arthritis, and medial compartment narrowing), and left knee strain were all granted service connection. The Veteran's clavicular pain was denied as there is no current diagnosis.,Acne vulgaris was also granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for otitis media was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Service connection for the right shoulder disorder was reopened, but denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side, which would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including low back strain and migraine headaches, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted his application for total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation as the last VA examinations were conducted in October 2014, which is considered too old to accurately assess his current condition.

The claim for service connection has been reopened, but further development is needed to determine the Veteran's right shoulder condition and its relation to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD) is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left knee disability, and right knee cap disability are denied as not service connected.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, left groin disability, and right groin disability are denied as not service connected.,The Veteran's headache disability is denied as not service connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a left shoulder disability and an increased rating for pes planus, but granted an initial rating of 10 percent for hypertension. The decision also noted that the highest schedular rating available for bilateral pes planus was already assigned.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for right ear hearing loss, residuals of TBI, and chest pain was denied. The Board found new and material evidence for the TBI claim.,Sleep apnea, left elbow disability, left shoulder bursitis, cervical spine disability, left hip disability, right pubic tendonitis, left ankle disability, right ankle sprain, left eye injury, stomach pain, kidney stones, service-connected cyst on the right side of the face, numbness in left hand and fingers (carpal tunnel syndrome), leg pain (left and right), and uncontrollable twitching and pain were all remanded for further review.

The Board denied reopening of claims for service connection for joint pain through ankles, knees, hips, wrists, elbows, shoulder and back due to cold weather exposure, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and asthma, finding no evidence of in-service injury or aggravation that would support direct service connection. The Veteran's pre-existing asthma was found to have existed prior to her active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected Mood Disorder and Left Shoulder Dislocation have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).