Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for all of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including Hepatitis C, angina, bone cancer, an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely depression or anxiety), erectile dysfunction, GERD, herpes, hypertension, jaw disability, left arm disability, left knee disability, left leg disability, left shoulder disability, lung cancer, prostate cancer, sinusitis, and sore throat. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral shin splints, lumbar spine disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied due to lack of current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than December 16, 2015, for the grant of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are also denied as there is no evidence that he filed such claims prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing STRs and outstanding treatment records. The issues include various knee, shoulder, hand, stomach, and psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and clarification of the rating criteria used.

The Veteran's right shoulder tendonitis has worsened since his last VA examination, and a new examination is needed to determine the current severity of the condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further evaluation of the Veteran's employment status and service-connected disabilities, including his interest in obtaining a bachelor’s degree. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated information on the Veteran's current employment status and any attempts to maintain suitable employment using his current level of education.

The Veteran's additional disabilities are being remanded for an addendum VA medical opinion to determine if they were caused by the November 2011 VA colonoscopy with perforated bowel and subsequent multiple infections, including carelessness or negligence on the part of VA.

The Veteran's left shoulder antero inferior dislocation with impingement syndrome is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of limitation of motion to 25 degrees from side or clinical findings of ankylosis, removal of semilunar cartilage, or impairment of the tibia and fibula.

The Veteran's lumbar DDD has been granted a restoration of a 40 percent rating, effective the date of reduction.,Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to service-connected lumbar DDD at the L4 vertebra is granted.

The Veteran's skin disorder, shoulder, hip, and knee disorders are remanded for further examination. The Veteran's anxiety/PTSD/alcohol use disorder is also remanded for a VA examination to assess the severity of his disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, left knee disorder, and shoulder disorders due to further medical inquiry.

The Board has dismissed the CUE claims for both right and left shoulder disabilities as addressed in the November 1969 and May 1982 rating decisions. The effective date claims are being REMANDED due to a failure to provide proper notice.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of a left knee disorder as requested by the Veteran.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, cervical spondylosis, right shoulder osteoarthritis, bilateral radiculopathy, and right foot hammertoes, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, failing eyesight, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right knee disability, left knee disability (secondary to right knee), right hip arthritis (secondary to right knee), and left hip arthritis (secondary to right knee) have all been denied. The Veteran's claims are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vocational goals are not reasonably feasible due to his ongoing alcohol abuse and psychiatric disabilities, leading to a denial of VR&E services.

The claim to service connection for a cholesterol disability is dismissed. The claims to service connection for bilateral knee, gout, back, and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy disabilities are denied. Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for heart disability is granted.

Service connection is granted for bilateral residuals of cold injury to the feet and hands, claimed as frostbite. Service connection is denied for left shoulder DJD and right shoulder condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and fibromyalgia are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran is currently in receipt of a 30% rating for her right shoulder disability, effective January 13, 2015. She contends that the shoulder disability increased in severity prior to this date.,The Veteran is currently in receipt of a 30% rating for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand, effective January 2, 2015. She contests the effective date.