Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board granted an initial 10 percent rating for bilateral pes planus and denied a TDIU. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability, right shoulder disability, and right eye disability. The Veteran's claims were based on his contention that these conditions are related to service.,The evidence did not show chronicity of the disabilities in service or within presumptive periods following separation from service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) housebound based on her service-connected disabilities, finding that she does not meet the criteria for SMC housebound as defined by law and regulations.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied. The left knee disability received a 10 percent rating, and the left shoulder disability received a 20 percent rating effective June 27, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete examinations and lack of opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Board has withdrawn the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus and obesity due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The remaining claims, including service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities and acquired psychiatric disability, are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for neck, left shoulder, and right shoulder conditions due to a lack of records documenting the Veteran's 2005 cervical spine surgery. The RO must attempt to obtain these records and readjudicate the claims on their merits.

The Board denied service connection for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the right neck, bilateral shoulder disability, loss of saliva and loss of sense of taste. The claims were found to be not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to service or any recognized presumptive conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of a left shoulder injury, residuals of a left elbow injury, and residuals of a lumbar spine injury. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities had their onset in service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in March 2018 is not sufficient to determine the current severity of the Veteran's right shoulder disability due to lack of testing for pain on both active and passive motion, as well as with and without weight-bearing. The Veteran was also seen by private physicians in November 2015 but no records have been obtained. Therefore, a new VA examination is needed.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for cervical strain, right shoulder disability, hypertension, and PTSD as the appellant withdrew his appeal with respect to these issues prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.,Service connection was not granted because there is no credible medical evidence linking any of these disabilities to service.

The Board has decided to remand four issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back disability, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, hypertension, and a higher combined disability rating. The remand requires obtaining updated medical records, scheduling VA examinations for the right shoulder and back, and determining the current severity of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including the total knee arthroplasty with residual pain and weakness, is granted as service-connected. The issues of arthritis in all joints (excluding left shoulder and right knee), low back disability, and acquired psychiatric disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea but has remanded the issues of right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral ankle disorders due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left shoulder disability, as well as increased ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to insufficient examination findings.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right ankle disability and remanded the issue of rating higher than 10 percent for left shoulder pain with Hill Sachs.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have worsened, and additional VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records are needed to determine the current severity of his disabilities. The issues will be remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder strain. A new VA medical opinion is needed to address whether the current right shoulder strain had its onset in service or is otherwise related to active service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed. The claim for service connection for a back condition has been reopened.