Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is being remanded for further evaluation due to the lack of recent medical records and an updated examination.

The Board denied service connection for a condition manifested by twitching of the face and shoulders, finding no evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has remanded the claim due to missing VA treatment records and a need for an additional medical opinion. The Veteran's neck and upper spine disability is being considered secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities as the evidence did not show they were incurred in or caused by military service.

The Board has not yet made a decision on the claims and is returning them for further development due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left shoulder, low back, bilateral hip, and right ankle disabilities. The rating for post-concussion syndrome with cognitive disorder and adjustment disorder, with anxiety and insomnia is also being remanded for a higher rating.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities, which have rendered him incapable of maintaining gainful employment. His TDIU claim has been granted effective from August 8, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for sleep disturbances is denied as the condition is not separate and distinct from his already service-connected sleep disorder.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis with muscle atrophy, joint, and muscle pain in the bilateral knees is denied due to lack of radiological confirmation within the appellate period. The Veteran is already service-connected for knee disorders.,The Veteran's claim for degenerative arthritis with muscle atrophy, joint, and muscle pain in the right shoulder is remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, PTSD rating, and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need to review all issues together.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his left shoulder impingement syndrome and service connection for his left upper extremity neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds no basis for a higher rating based on limitation of motion. The Veteran’s left foot disability is currently rated as 10 percent due to residual fracture of the fifth metatarsal.,The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea are denied because there is insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for the entire appeal to be dismissed.

Service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type 2 is granted. Service connection for Hepatitis C is granted with a rating of 40 percent effective January 1, 2017. The reduction from 40 percent to 10 percent was improper.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, including as due to his service-connected cervical spine and right shoulder disorders. The issue of extending a temporary total rating for right shoulder surgery convalescence beyond October 31, 2006 is considered moot.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and his service, as well as their relation to any service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's right shoulder arthroscopic reconstruction with residuals is rated at 20 percent since February 6, 2015. Service connection for adhesive capsulitis, instability, low back condition, and arthralgia, right hip are all denied. However, service connection was granted for right knee patella tendonitis.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have been incurred in service, and the claim for service connection for this condition is granted.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff disease, degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome. A rating of 20 percent is assigned for left ankle tendon injury and fracture with internal fixation.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, PTSD, left shoulder disorder, and cervical spine disorder have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.