Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to inadequate examination reports and the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen his previously denied claims for left knee strain, plantar and retrocalcaneal spurs of the left foot with DJD, strained calf muscle/pulled left hamstring, and a left shoulder disorder have been dismissed.,Restoration of the 10 percent rating for old healed fracture, right long finger, effective from April 1, 2017, is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder strain with carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome, finding that there is no evidence of such conditions being related to his active service or his service-connected lumbar strain. The case was also remanded for further development regarding an increased disability evaluation for his lumbar strain.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for neck, back, and bilateral shoulder disabilities were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.,No new or material evidence has been presented that would support reopening the claims.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been granted. He was previously awarded a 30% rating for PTSD effective July 28, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and unclear employment status. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are expected to be evaluated for their impact on his ability to work, with a focus on whether his current job constitutes 'marginal' employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as his left shoulder condition is not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left shoulder disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claim for a new medical examination and opinion due to insufficient findings in the previous VA examination, which did not comply with the requirements of Correia v. McDonald (2016) and Sharp v. Shulkin (2017).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone render him in need of regular aid and attendance of another person, which is granted for special monthly compensation (SMC) by reason of the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not been properly evaluated and requires additional examinations to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions. The rating for cervical spine disability is also remanded as evidence suggests a material worsening since the last examination in January 2014. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is also remanded because the audiogram associated with the September 2015 VA audiology consult has not been made part of the record.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability (including strain and arthritis), and right knee disability. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions at the time of the decision.,Service connection was also denied for a left knee disability. The Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the left knee was not shown to be related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, sleep disability, left wrist scars, right shoulder disability, skin disability, and headaches. The effective date for the grant of service connection for left wrist scars is set at June 18, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including back, left wrist, right wrist, left shoulder, and right shoulder conditions due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been granted. The Board has remanded several other issues including service connection for thyroid disability, right shoulder disability, low back disability, neck disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, cataracts, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder and left calf disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is now rated at 30 percent, effective July 6, 2010. The Veteran’s chronic right knee strain and PTSD are not currently service-connected.