Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and an initial rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 22, 2018, were denied. The Veteran's current right shoulder disability was not shown to be related to his military service, while his bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, bilaterally shortened metatarsals, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The claim for a left foot disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including osteoarthritis, was caused by his active duty service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a right shoulder disorder and assigned him a rating of 20 percent, effective from when the evidence was received that is new and material. The appeal is granted in part.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder, left forearm, left index finger, and cervical spine disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's disabilities. The claims for service connection are not currently pending as the diabetes mellitus type 2 claim was denied in a final rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability, finding that there is no causal relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his current condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The reduction in disability rating from 20% to 10% was found improper as the procedural requirements under 38 C.F.R. § 3.105(i) were not followed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, shoulder, and spine disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is also being asked to provide VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding whether his right shoulder disability is related to service and/or aggravated by his left shoulder disability. The Veteran also needs a VA examination to assess the severity of his left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Veteran contends that he sustained a TBI in June or July.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of any claimed conditions, including left-hand disorder, right-hand disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, respiratory disorder (bronchitis), and right ear hearing loss. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for tinnitus has been dismissed. An initial compensable rating of 10% has been granted for left thumb degenerative arthritis with flexor tendinitis.,Service connection claims for asthma, depression and anxiety, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, hearing loss, and immunoglobulin A nephropathy have all been remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed disabilities and finds no credible evidence linking these conditions to service. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability appeal is dismissed. An effective date of July 23, 2009, but no earlier, is granted for the grant of a 30 percent evaluation for pulmonary sarcoidosis.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical neck disability, but dismissed the Veteran's claims of left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were not permanent and total as of September 20, 2016. Therefore, the effective date for her Dependent's Education Assistance (DEA) benefits cannot be earlier than September 20, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examinations in prior decisions.