Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder strain, instability of his knees, and TDIU. The main reasons for remanding are missing records from the claim file and a need for new examinations due to Correia v. McDonald (2016).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder disabilities due to inadequate examination reports and the need for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including shin and knee issues, abdominal pain, diarrhea, chest pain, shoulder condition, wrist carpal tunnel syndromes, testicular strain, vision problems, and temporomandibular disorder. The reasons given are that the evidence is insufficient to establish a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The issues include bilateral foot disability, residuals of a head injury, neck disability, and left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence being added to the record after a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The VA will need to obtain any additional VA treatment records and consider all submitted evidence in an appropriate SSOC.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic right shoulder dislocation prevented him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment during the specified periods, warranting a total disability rating.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is being remanded for further examination and evaluation due to the lack of a medical opinion regarding whether his additional disabilities, if any are present, were proximately caused by carelessness, negligence, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA in furnishing the hospital care, medical or surgical treatment, or examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU due to the lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is also being remanded for further examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not properly adjudicated and requires further examination to determine if his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral double vision and glenohumeral joint, acromioclavicular joint arthritis of the right (dominant) shoulder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, but the Board found that there was not clear and unmistakable evidence that they pre-existed his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD and left shoulder arthritis due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran needs a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he meets the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD, and an orthopedic examination to assess his left shoulder disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right shoulder disability. The cervical spine and right knee issues are remanded, as well as the PTSD issue. TDIU is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disorder, left arm numbness as secondary to cervical spine disorder, headaches as secondary to cervical spine disorder, and a left shoulder strain. Service connection for right shoulder disability is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for right shoulder DJD is being remanded due to the VA examiner's opinion based solely on an absence of diagnosis and treatment in service, which ignores the Veteran's account of symptoms during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder separation. The Veteran is asked to provide any additional relevant private treatment records and for a VA examiner to review his claims file and provide an opinion on whether his condition is related to service.

An effective date of February 10, 2003 is granted for the grant of service connection for a cervical spine disability. The Veteran's left shoulder and neck disabilities are also rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete development of records, including obtaining VA treatment records from December 2000 to January 2003.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition was not caused by VA medical treatment.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted service connection. Service connection for left lower extremity shin splints, left shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and coccyx disorder are denied. The bilateral hip disorders' service connection claim is remanded.