Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative changes, lumbar hypertrophic osteoarthritis, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The Veteran's service-connected erectile dysfunction associated with PTSD, SMC for loss of use of a creative organ, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities are also remanded.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, erectile dysfunction associated with PTSD, and SMC for loss of use of a creative organ. The Veteran's TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is also remanded.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction associated with PTSD, earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for erectile dysfunction associated with PTSD, and earlier effective date for SMC for loss of use of a creative organ. The Veteran's TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is also remanded.

The Veteran's left shoulder sprain is rated at 20 percent, effective from November 1, 2013. The Veteran's left hip strain and left knee sprain are both rated at 10 percent, effective from November 1, 2013. A separate 10 percent rating for partial removal of the left meniscus is granted, effective from November 1, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and updated medical history.

The Veteran's hyperhidrosis is not compensable as it does not prevent him from handling paper or tools.,There is no evidence of a right shoulder condition during service, and the preponderance of the evidence supports the conclusion that his current right shoulder condition did not begin in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for clarification on whether VA's failure to timely diagnose and treat a preexisting right shoulder condition resulted in additional disability. The Veteran asserts that she suffered from an additional disability as a result of delays in treatment, while the VA examiner opined that the delay was not due to fault.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to appear for VA examinations. The Veteran will need to undergo new examinations and obtain certain records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disability was dismissed as the representative withdrew it prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, back condition, right hip condition, and left hip condition due to lack of verification of his periods of active duty for training and inactive duty training in the U.S. Army Reserve from March 1973 to 1989, and because he has not provided VA with records of treatment by physicians J.I., M.D., and D.N.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the right shoulder strain, duodenal ulcer with duodenitis and erosive gastritis, lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, and chronic left shoulder disability claims before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the veteran's claims as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, both secondary to PTSD. The other claims have been denied as new and material evidence was not provided.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate to make a fully informed decision on the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis, varicose veins of the bilateral lower extremity, and right shoulder disability. The Board is therefore remanding these issues for further development.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder condition is dismissed.,Entitlement to service connection for hypertension is granted. The Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is granted service connection. The Board also granted service connection for a cervical spine condition, left hip arthritis (secondary to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease), and obstructive sleep apnea. Service connection was denied for the remaining conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disorders is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition and remanded it for further development. The claims of entitlement to higher ratings for left knee disability, as well as secondary service connection for psychiatric disabilities are also being remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied prior to March 15, 2013, and granted from that date. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of right shoulder injury, a rating in excess of 40 percent for right ulnar neuropathy, and a compensable rating for right shoulder surgical scars.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, gout, hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular accident residuals, concussion residuals, right shoulder disorder, and scar on the back of head as there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service separation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 7, 2016, for the grant of a 50 percent rating for PTSD is denied. The claim for an earlier effective date of November 29, 2017, for the grant of a 20 percent rating for right shoulder disability is also denied.