Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including whether he suffers from an impairment of the humerus. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy of each lower extremity as a complication of service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's left shoulder disability and arthritis of the lumbar spine with limitation of motion, right knee arthritis, and diabetes mellitus, Type II with retinopathy are all remanded for further examination and rating.

This decision denies the Veteran's claims for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to January 30, 2012 and from that date. The Board found insufficient evidence to support TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, heart disease, and residuals of a head injury (other than headaches). The Veteran's left shoulder disorder was not shown to be related to service or a pre-existing condition. Heart disease was not shown to have been incurred in service. Residuals of the head injury were found to be due to an in-service fall but no chronic heart disease was found.,The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, heart disease, and residuals of a head injury (other than headaches). The Veteran's left shoulder disorder was not shown to be related to service or a pre-existing condition. Heart disease was not shown to have been incurred in service. Residuals of the head injury were found to be due to an in-service fall but no chronic heart disease was found.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. Service connection for TBI is denied. The Board has remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient medical opinions and missing records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, finding that his current condition is related to an incident during military service. The claim was reopened due to new evidence showing a current disability and its relationship with military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,Claims regarding the Veteran's knee, shoulder, deviated septum, sleep apnea, lacunar infarcts, PTSD, and dental conditions have been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, lower back disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's disabilities were not found to be related to his active military service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability is granted as service connected, and his PTSD is remanded for further evaluation. The issue of TDIU is also remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the PTSD claim.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder was rated at 50% from November 18, 2010 to July 28, 2014.,Residuals of a right shoulder rotator cuff tear were not service connected.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating for various conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted, and service connection for the same condition is also granted. The claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 remains pending due to new evidence received within one year of the original denial.

The Veteran's appeal as to diabetes mellitus, major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection of a left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, cervical spine disorder, left knee condition, right knee condition, gastrointestinal disorder, skin disorder, residuals of a head injury, and migraine headaches have been granted.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle, left great big toe injury, and broken ribs, right side disabilities. The Veteran's claims for left and right shoulder disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the claims for increased ratings for left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left shoulder strain with degenerative joint disease are remanded due to outstanding medical records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and major depressive disorder has been granted, as well as claims for residuals of a laceration to the face above the left eye, upper body disorders including a left shoulder disorder, and tinnitus. The appeals were reopened due to new evidence submitted since previous decisions.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for traumatic brain injury and service connection for tinnitus were granted. The appeals to reopen his claims of bilateral hearing loss, left ear infection, left ankle disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and right eye disability are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need to locate missing records from 2002-2006.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is being remanded because of incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding whether his pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.,The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability claims are being remanded due to the need to locate missing records from 2002-2006 and for inadequate examination opinions.,The Veteran's back disability claim is being remanded because of incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding whether his condition was aggravated by service.,The Veteran's ankle disability claim is being remanded due to incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding the severity of his condition.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia claim is being remanded due to incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding the severity of his condition.,The effective date for service connection for fibromyalgia is being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating greater than 20 percent for recurrent left shoulder dislocation with Bankhart lesion and degenerative arthritis is denied. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is remanded due to the inextricability of the issues.