Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder tendonitis and impingement syndrome was dismissed. A TDIU rating is granted, but the issues regarding lumbosacral and thoracic strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and the need for additional development. The Veteran's right knee condition, back condition, left knee condition, and right shoulder condition are all under review.

Service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% effective March 2, 2001 and increased to 70% effective December 12, 2008.,The Veteran’s type two diabetes mellitus with associated erectile dysfunction remains at a noncompensable rating.

Service connection for left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left hip disability, and right hip disability is denied.,Service connection for left knee condition and right knee condition is denied.,An effective date of January 24, 2013 is granted for service connection for left triceps tendonitis. An earlier effective date prior to August 6, 2012 is denied for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a lumbar spine/low back disability and respiratory issues (including asbestosis), right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, headaches, diabetes mellitus type II, hemorrhoids, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the receipt of new and material evidence. The Veteran's claims will be further evaluated with additional medical examinations.

Service connection for a right shoulder condition is dismissed.,Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, claimed as left hip pain, secondary to service-connected back disability, is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened, and he is now granted service connection. His BHL is also granted. The right shoulder tendonitis and PTSD are both rated at the highest possible level (40%). TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for membranous nephropathy, GERD, and increased ratings for various knee conditions as well as a TDIU was granted. The effective date for the award of service connection for membranous nephropathy is set at March 21, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU were denied. The left shoulder disability was rated at 10% prior to July 13, 2010, and at 20% from that date onwards. The prostate cancer rating remained at 20%, the PTSD rating at 30%, and the right shoulder impingement rating at 20%. TDIU was denied as of February 6, 2018.

The Veteran's disability ratings for Right Shoulder Strain and Left Shoulder Strain were restored to 10 percent, effective May 11, 2012. The Veteran's PTSD was granted a TDIU (Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability).

The petition to reopen the previously denied claims for cervical spine, left shoulder, lumbar spine, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities were all denied. The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for allergic rhinitis was also denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of obesity secondary to service-connected hypertension was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tachycardia, increased rating for left shoulder disability, and compensable rating for left shoulder scar were denied. The claim for a rating of 60 percent for asthma was granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's DJD of the right shoulder and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, are not service-connected. The case is being sent back for further examination and analysis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, right ankle disability, and male reproductive organ disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine pain, left shoulder partial tear distal supraspinatus tendon and tendinosis, and right shoulder degenerative changes and tendonitis due to conflicting opinions from VA examiners. The Veteran is required to provide a new opinion regarding the nature and etiology of her back disability and bilateral shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for right shoulder degenerative joint disease is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a digestive system disease, to include GERD.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left shoulder disability and sleep apnea due to insufficient rationale in the previous medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood/major depression, which is found to be related to his service-connected muscle/joint pain/fatigue and vomiting disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded for further examination to determine if a higher rating is warranted. The left shoulder disability remains on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip disability, arthritis of the right shoulder, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine post fusion, and right inguinal hernia. Service connection was denied for a respiratory disability due to herbicide agent exposure.