Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability, an upper respiratory illness, and a sleep disorder due to the Veteran's request for a DRO hearing.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected right shoulder degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, as well as for bilateral shoulder disabilities. The decision found that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that more contemporaneous examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder and back disabilities due to outdated examination reports. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for recurrent dislocation, status post reverse right total shoulder arthroplasty is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder strain was granted effective September 19, 2011. The Board found that the increase in disability occurred after the claim was filed and thus determined an appropriate effective date of September 19, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and right shoulder/arm conditions, make it impossible for him to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal regarding an annual clothing allowance for the period beginning January 2, 2014 is remanded due to a dispute between him and VHA over the amount and potential effective date of those payments. The Board will address these issues at a later date.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of your appeal.

The Board denied service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including shoulder and spine disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service disease or injury related to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected left arm, shoulder, wrist, and scar conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative before the Board could issue a decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hypertension were granted service connection. The left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical spine, sleep disability, cephalgia tension headaches (claimed as migraines), and acquired psychiatric disabilities were not granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder disorder, left shoulder impingement, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypothyroidism due to lack of competent evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was rated at 10% prior to February 11, 2016 and at 20% after that date. The claim for a higher rating remains on appeal. Prior to December 14, 2016, the Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right shoulder/clavicle disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition, an increased rating for his right shoulder strain, and TDIU. The Veteran's current symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating in any of these issues.

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

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including muscle pain due to an undiagnosed disorder, left Achilles sprain, chronic fatigue as due to undiagnosed illness, respiratory disorder, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal symptoms, erectile dysfunction, neuropsychological symptoms, headaches, neurological condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are being remanded for further evaluation.