Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals regarding the disability ratings for various knee and hip conditions, leaving no issues to be decided by the Board.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, knee, back, neck, and shoulder conditions due to new evidence. The issues of increased ratings for asthma, migraines, PTSD, and service connection for right knee, neck, trapezius disorder (claimed as back and neck trapezius strain and a right shoulder disorder), thoracic outlet syndrome, bilateral pes planus, metatarsalgia, and left foot tendonitis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of compliance with examination requirements and need for updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's left shoulder disability remains in appellate status.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back disability and increased rating for right shoulder impingement syndrome due to new evidence or development. The Veteran's right shoulder condition is currently rated at 20%.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bipolar disorder, a bilateral shoulder disability, a left elbow disability, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist. The decision also remanded several other issues.,Service connection was not granted for any of these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, finding that new evidence submitted after the July 2012 denial supports a finding of in-service onset and continuity of symptoms.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability and sleep apnea, as these conditions may be related to his service-connected left shoulder strain.

The Veteran's request for an extension of a total convalescent rating beyond April 30, 2015 due to right shoulder treatment requiring convalescence is denied as she did not require convalescence beyond that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions and exposure history.

The Veteran's TDIU rating is granted as of August 28, 2006, based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU rating is granted as of August 28, 2006, based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was granted a 20 percent rating for the period from September 24, 2013 to August 21, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for cataracts of both eyes, finding that there was no current diagnosis of these conditions and that any existing conditions were not caused by VA care.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of neck, back, bilateral knee, bilateral shoulder and chest pain disabilities. The appeal regarding vertigo is dismissed as well.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination report, and a new opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's left shoulder disability was aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and need for additional opinions regarding the etiology of his disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability starting from March 1, 2009. Effective date for TDIU is set at March 1, 2009.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability was granted a rating of 30 percent from April 22, 2015 to November 7, 2017; and of 50 percent from November 8, 2017. The left shoulder disability was denied an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to his active service, but additional evidence is needed for other conditions. The Veteran will need to provide updated treatment records and undergo a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for his left shoulder condition.,The preponderance of evidence is against finding that the Veteran's right shoulder condition is related to an in-service injury.