Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to various joint and musculoskeletal issues as well as tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, lactose intolerance, prostate cancer, and its residuals. The Veteran's service in the Persian Gulf is noted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder, cervical spine, occipital nerve, and headache disorders due to a lack of adequate medical examination.

The Board has found that an effective date prior to February 26, 2014, for the grant of a 10 percent rating for right knee derangement is not warranted. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and right knee are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, throat cancer, and baroreflex failure have been granted. The right shoulder claim is remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The throat cancer claim was denied as there was no evidence linking it to service or Agent Orange exposure. The baroreflex failure claim was also denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right shoulder strain, ankle and knee disabilities, back disability, and hypertension. The case will be remanded to obtain new VA examinations and opinions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of various disabilities and to obtain relevant VA treatment records. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the Veteran's dishonorable discharge from active military service. The tinnitus claim is granted, but other conditions are being remanded for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a bilateral shoulder condition. A new examination is needed to determine if there is any functional impairment and whether it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder and left wrist disabilities, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The issues of service connection for a left shoulder disorder secondary to his right shoulder disability, and an increased rating for his right shoulder disability are both being addressed.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, increased ratings for shoulder and ankle disabilities, asthma, and scars are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for twitching of the eye, finding that there is no evidence linking this condition to his active service. The claims for increased ratings for left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, thoracic muscle strain, and right shoulder strain are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the VA has not provided a combined effects opinion on his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability.

The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, right shoulder, right iliotibial band syndrome, and right ankle sprain residuals are service-connected as of May 4, 2009.,Service connection for PTSD was established as of July 6, 2010.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions, including adjustment disorder with depressed mood, eye condition, bronchitis, tenosynovitis, bilateral shoulder condition, degenerative joint disease of the spine, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The appeal for service connection for a bilateral leg condition was denied, as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition. Service connection for tinnitus was also denied due to lack of in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 50 percent rating from September 25, 2013 to prior to July 1, 2015. The claims for right shoulder strain, lumbosacral strain, and cervical strain are reopened.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability has been reopened and granted. His PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from February 13, 2015. The Veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and new evidence, including flare-ups of shoulder disability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, as a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's shoulder conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of recent VA examination for the left shoulder disability, and requests that the Veteran undergoes another VA examination.