Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical evidence and conduct further examinations for the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability. The TDIU issue remains in appellate status as it is related to the increased rating claim.

The Board has denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been assigned an effective date of January 1, 2017, which is the day after his separation from active duty.,The Veteran has filed a claim for earlier effective dates for various service-connected conditions. The Board finds that these claims are denied as the earliest possible effective date allowed by law is January 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding records and a need for an examination. The issues include left knee, right knee, right shoulder, bilateral hip, insomnia, and heart disability (mitral valve prolapse).

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his service-connected right shoulder degenerative joint disease was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 20 percent prior to May 13, 2019, and a 30 percent evaluation thereafter.

The Veteran's initial rating for right shoulder rotator cuff tear with arthritis was denied, as the disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating prior to December 19, 2017 and since December 20, 2017. The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee was also denied an increased rating.,The Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tear with arthritis is rated at 10 percent prior to December 19, 2017 and at 20 percent since December 20, 2017. The patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran’s representative withdrawing all issues except for those related to coronary artery disease, TDIU, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including osteoarthritis in multiple joints and other conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his left shoulder condition and the reopening of his claim for service connection for cervical strain are both remanded.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent from May 9, 2006 to November 13, 2006 and at 40 percent thereafter. The effective date for the increased rating remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence and changes in employment status, requiring further development of records from Social Security Administration (SSA) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent since December 3, 2018. The rating reflects limitation of motion to midway between the side and shoulder level.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations. The issues include right shoulder tendonitis, left knee degenerative joint disease, left knee instability, and right knee chondromalacia with degenerative changes.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for dermatophytosis tinea corporis. The remaining issues have been remanded for further examination and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded four issues related to hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder pain, and lumbosacral strain due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable evaluations for right and left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as her appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include simple phobia (now consolidated under major depressive disorder with PTSD and insomnia), have been dismissed. The Veteran has also been granted a TDIU.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for low back disorder, left shoulder disorder, and bone loss disorder due to Depo Provera use based on new evidence submitted since the previous denial. The claims are now considered for their merits.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions were dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, joint arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Service connection is not granted for a low back disability as there is no evidence of such during active service or related to an in-service injury.