Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's eligibility for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation is remanded due to additional mobility problems associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The Board finds a need for a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to ambulate.

The Veteran's right shoulder surgery necessitated a period of postoperative convalescence, and the Board granted a temporary total evaluation based on this.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of a right shoulder disability and a neck disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and mental health disorders. The specific issues include fibromyalgia, left shoulder condition, left side back condition, cervical spine condition, left hand muscle failure, hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, total abdominal hysterectomy, skin condition, headaches (including as secondary to seizures), carpal tunnel syndromes, seizures (to include as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder), memory loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board also requested additional evidence related to the Veteran's claims for service connection based on personal assault.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder, elbow, foot/toes numbness, wrist, knee, ankle, eye, vertigo, breathing difficulties, and hypertension have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to military service.

The Board has denied service connection for elevated cholesterol due to the absence of a current disability. The remaining issues (epilepsy, acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, right shoulder disability, sleep apnea, tinnitus, and low back disability) are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left shoulder, lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to obtain an MRI report from January 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis in shoulders, wrists, knees, ankles, and feet as secondary to his service-connected Crohn’s disease with small intestine resection and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for cervical spine and bilateral shoulder disorders due to insufficient examination addressing the Veteran's lay statements about his military duties.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current headache disorder. The issues of service connection for left shoulder disability and right elbow pain remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues for further examination and review, including service connection claims for various conditions and a higher disability rating for left knee strain.

The Veteran's claims for left wrist tendonitis and residuals of fractured coccyx are denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of a disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder torn tendon with tendonitis and bursitis is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding in-service diagnoses.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow tendonitis, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, torn meniscus, and osteoarthritis, as well as left knee patellofemoral syndrome are all remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding in-service diagnoses.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle torn ligament is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding in-service diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder impingement due to a lack of competent medical evidence and because there is an indication that the condition may be associated with his service. The Veteran needs to provide updated treatment records, and he will need to undergo a VA examination to determine if his current shoulder conditions are related to his service.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities have been rated at 20 percent each, with no higher ratings granted due to the severity of their symptoms not meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is not service-connected as secondary to her service-connected right wrist disability. The case is being remanded for further evaluation and clarification of the relationship between the two disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment, as his inability is due to Alzheimer’s/dementia. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's increased ratings for right and left shoulder rotator cuff tendinopathy with adhesive capsulitis, lumbosacral strain and thoracic spondylosis with radiculopathy, cervical spinal stenosis with spondylosis, right ankle strain, left ankle strain, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are denied.,The Veteran's freestanding claims for service connection of PTSD, allergic rhinosinusitis, cervical spinal stenosis with spondylosis, lumbosacral strain and thoracic spondylosis with radiculopathy, right ankle strain, left ankle strain, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are denied.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to insufficient evidence and the need for further medical evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for a right little finger disability and remanded the claims of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, allergic rhinitis, foot fungus (likely athlete's foot), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine (low back) disability, and left shoulder rotator cuff tear with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis.