Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, excluding PTSD, do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and lack of VA examinations. The Veteran is presumed to have incurred hearing loss and tinnitus during his period of service, but further examination is needed to determine their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his in-service blood pressure readings and that there was no evidence of continuous symptoms since separation from service.,The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, concluding that the Veteran's private treatment records after service supported that his injury occurred post-service rather than during service.,The Board denied service connection for a thoracic spine disability, stating that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his in-service duties and that there was no evidence of continuous symptoms since separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and re-adjudication due to inconsistencies in the medical history provided by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, and cervical spine disorder. The appeal is remanded to obtain a VA examination for the Veteran's currently present bilateral foot disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder bursitis, right hip bursitis, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. However, the effective date for the award of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is denied.

The Veteran's back and shoulder disabilities are not service-connected due to the lack of evidence showing a direct link between his treatment and these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and bilateral hand numbness, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right hip disability, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hemorrhoids, traumatic brain injury (TBI), migraine headaches, and vertigo are remanded due to incomplete records. The Veteran is asked to provide additional private treatment records related to his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to inadequate examination and failure to provide a rationale for denying TDIU.

The Veteran's left shoulder disorder is rated at a 60 percent disability rating since December 2, 2014.,An earlier effective date for the TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle, bilateral wrist, and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding functional loss or impairment.

Service connection for the claimed conditions is denied.,An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder residuals is also denied.

The Board has granted the reopening of previously denied claims for service connection for chronic low back condition and right shoulder disability status post fracture, but denied reopening of other claims. The case is remanded for further development on all issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for psoriasis, left shoulder arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, left hand arthritis, and right hand arthritis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of residuals of a right ankle fracture has been reopened, and the Board has remanded it. The claims for higher initial disability ratings for spur formation of the lumbar spine, left knee injury, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee are also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and right knee disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during service.,There is no credible medical evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to new evidence being associated with the case file since the February 2017 SOC. The VA will conduct updated examinations of the Veteran’s low back, cervical spine, right hip, and left hip disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left and right shoulder disabilities due to unclear diagnoses from a previous VA examination.