Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder acromioclavicular joint degenerative joint disease, status post distal clavicle resection. Service connection was denied for an upper/lower back disorder.

The Board has ordered additional development to be completed, including obtaining missing Reserve treatment records and verifying the Veteran's periods of active duty for training. A VA examination will also be scheduled to determine if the current right shoulder disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder DJD, left shoulder strain, and bilateral elbow DJD are granted. The case is remanded to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete information provided by the Veteran. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to verify the Veteran's current address and resend necessary documents.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence on file. The Veteran is entitled to a VA examination and opinion to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities due to lack of evidence linking the right shoulder condition to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for high cholesterol, low potassium, and low calcium have been denied. The remaining issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, left shoulder arthritis, and right shoulder arthritis due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine whether his conditions are related to service.

The Board denied a rating greater than 30 percent for the appellant's left shoulder disability prior to March 24, 2018. The evidence did not show that his range of motion was limited to 25 degrees or less at any point during this period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder strain is related to his right shoulder bicep tendon tear and rotator cuff tear. The claim will be reviewed again with a new medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and diabetes mellitus, type II, finding no evidence of current disabilities or a link to military service.

The Board has remanded the cases of left shoulder degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus for further development.

The Board has denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine and right shoulder disabilities, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a headache disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability with triceps atrophy is secondary to his cervical spine disability, which is related to his service-connected low back disability. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for educational assistance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill Program is denied as his active duty service did not qualify him for benefits at a level greater than 80 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability was granted. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for impingement of the left shoulder, status post arthroscopic labral repair and denied a compensable rating for a left shoulder surgical scar.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder condition and residuals of a right shoulder injury, as well as their relationship to service-connected back disability.