Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine disability, along with other disabilities, does not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to its impact on his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including neck, right knee, right foot, right wrist, left wrist, right elbow, right hip, and right shoulder conditions. The decision is based on a lack of a VA examination to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of the Veteran for further examination and development, including obtaining medical records from an emergency room visit in May 2015. The issues include service connection for a right shoulder condition, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression), and rating greater than 10 percent for migraines.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the VA examinations and the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's heart disability, manifested by myxomatous mitral valve disease and mitral regurgitation, is granted. The Board also remanded the cases for service connection of a left shoulder disability, cerebrovascular accident residuals, and hypertension.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding his entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder due to his request through his attorney of record to withdraw the appeal. The issues of an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a left shoulder disability, service connection for a left elbow disorder, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) are remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder, including bursitis, is found to be related to his service and granted.

The Veteran's headache disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective June 2, 2016. Prior to that date, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and initial ratings for various knee, shoulder, toe, groin, and hearing loss conditions are remanded due to the need for new examinations.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found no credible evidence linking the current disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for liver damage, AC joint arthritis of the left shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left wrist, degenerative disease of the left knee, degenerative changes of the right knee, chronic cervical strain with radiculopathy/neuropathy, lumbar strain, allergic rhinitis, and PTSD have all been denied. The Veteran's claim for prurigo is remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims for right shoulder and left knee disabilities, as well as hypertension. The cases are remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, bilateral shoulder disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his active duty service, but the preponderance of evidence does not support a nexus between his hypertension and service.

The Board has found that new evidence was submitted and requires another Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) to be issued, including this new evidence. The issues on appeal are being remanded for further action.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome, but has remanded the claim of service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's right shoulder and right knee disabilities are granted service connection. Service connection for hypertension is denied, and the issue of secondary service connection for a right elbow disability due to his right shoulder disability is remanded. The issue of service connection for residuals of an anthrax vaccine is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for head scars prior to October 5, 2017 and higher than 10 percent thereafter is denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of July 1, 2009.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed low back, neck, right shoulder, left leg radiculopathy, and right leg radiculopathy disabilities. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability is denied. The Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent.