Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development, including verification of in-service stressors.

The Board has granted service connection for stroke, right hand disorder, and right shoulder disorder as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded the claims for a bilateral shoulder disability, back disability, and neck disability due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's lay history must be considered in determining whether service connection is warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee pain, right knee pain, left heel pain, and right heel pain due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's claimed conditions are not presumed as chronic conditions under VA law.

The Board has dismissed all five issues of increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected conditions as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left and right shoulder, hip, knee, stomach, leg sciatica, memory loss, low back, and right ear hearing loss disabilities were denied. The Board found no evidence of these conditions in service or related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder and knee joint pain as they are not adequately addressed by the May 2017 VA examination. Additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the current diagnoses are related to service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent prior to January 8, 2016. As of that date, the rating was increased to 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, but has remanded the issues of left shoulder disorder and fibromyalgia/polymyalgia rheumatica due to lack of evidence. The lumbar spine issue is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as the VA examiner did not provide sufficient information regarding the combined effect of his multiple service-connected conditions on his ability to work.

The Veteran's service-connected insomnia, left shoulder disability, and tinea versicolor have been granted. The left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent since April 22, 2013, to November 25, 2017, with a higher rating denied. The tinea versicolor has been rated at 10 percent from April 22, 2013, to October 5, 2016, and then increased to 30 percent since October 5, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected postoperative neck scars, left ilium graft of right knee and shoulder, residuals of a right shoulder injury, cervical spine disability, and TDIU. The claim for lumbar spine disability was reopened but not granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for his right shoulder strain, right wrist sprain, and right knee disability due to inadequate examinations and failure to consider all relevant evidence.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining treatment records from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and Faxton St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Center in Utica, New York.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral shoulder numbness and tingling, cervical spine condition, right ankle condition, or bilateral foot bursitis.,Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hand, shoulder, knee, foot conditions and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The claim for sleep apnea is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these other claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a left shoulder disability, right knee disability (secondary to dislocated right ankle), left ankle disability (secondary to dislocated right ankle), and prostate condition. The Veteran is advised that he must submit a timely substantive appeal if he wishes to proceed with these matters.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is found to have developed during service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the specific conditions and ratings are not specified in this decision.

The Board has denied service connection for right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disorders. The rash claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.