Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to military noise exposure. The right shoulder degenerative joint disease rating remains at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back condition, sciatica (secondary to low back condition), and sleep apnea. The claim for service connection for keloids of the left shoulder is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional VA treatment records that may contain relevant information about the Veteran's right shoulder conditions and scars.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the low back and a right shoulder condition, finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's left and right ankle disabilities have been granted increased initial ratings of 20 percent. The Veteran's asthma has also been granted an increased rating to 30 percent, but only after the period from April 9, 2015 onwards. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, bilateral shoulder disability, hypertension, brain condition, neurological impairment of the breast and nipples, and mental condition are all granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, thoracic scoliosis, neck disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right hand pain. The cases are remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all issues.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder has been granted. The Board has remanded the issue due to insufficient medical evidence.,The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for pes planus on a direct basis was denied as there is no new and material evidence.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability was denied. The Board also remanded the Veteran's claims seeking increased ratings for residuals of Guillain-Barre syndrome affecting his bilateral upper and lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of consideration by the RO and the need for additional evidence. The Veteran's right shoulder condition is still rated at 20 percent, but the issue remains on appeal.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder, neck and arm disability due to new evidence. The claims of temporary total rating based upon convalescence following right shoulder surgery and entitlement to SMC are also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability and right shoulder/arm pain, but denied both on a compensation basis due to dishonorable service during the period of ACDUTRA. The claims are reopened.

The petition to reopen a claim for service connection for a left knee condition was denied. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an effective date prior to October 14, 2014 for the grant of service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease with tear of superior labrum and tendinosis of the rotator cuff and long head of the biceps tendon status post arthrotomy was denied. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for a right shoulder disability is remanded, as well as his claim for TDIU due to this issue being inextricably intertwined.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral upper extremity neuropathy of the median nerve.,The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a nexus between his current disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's GERD, right shoulder disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted as service-connected. The rating for the GERD is set at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral shoulder disability, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral knee disability, and GERD due to new evidence indicating worsening symptoms since his last VA examination in February 2012. The Veteran will need to undergo additional VA examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury and residuals of a right middle finger injury. The cases are remanded to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right elbow, left elbow, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities due to new evidence submitted. The claims are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and related issues due to outstanding VA treatment records, and to clarify whether any current psychiatric symptoms are related to active service or Vietnam-era stressors. The stroke claim is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD issue.