Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral shoulder joint pain, neck pain, and hip joint pain. The Veteran's disabilities are not considered to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence for service connection of various conditions, including a back disorder, sinus disorder, left shoulder disorder, right foot disorder, and knee disorders. The Veteran's assertions will be evaluated in conjunction with medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, hypertension, bilateral shoulder disability, neck disability, and left knee disability have been withdrawn. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions based on the continuity of symptomatology since the in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD, sleep apnea, acid reflux/GERD, arthritis (including cervical spine and lumbar spine), and joint pain (including right shoulder, right elbow, bilateral hand disorder, and bilateral hip disorder) as these conditions are not related to active service or events therein.

The Board has denied service connection for compression of spinal cord, epididymitis, right side, and abscess on vocal cord. The remaining issues are REMANDED for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, requires only restricted diet and an oral glycemic agent during the period on appeal. The issues of service connection for a right shoulder disability, cervical strain, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, psychiatric disability (to include depression), initial increased evaluation for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and TDIU are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The issue will be reconsidered with consideration given to all service-connected disabilities, but not any other disabilities. Deliberation of whether referral for extraschedular TDIU is required prior to December 21, 2017 should also be considered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder injury and head condition residuals have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension as a result of exposure to herbicides, diabetes as a result of exposure to herbicides, and neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity, as secondary to diabetes have been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of a nexus to his military service.,The Board also remanded several issues related to right shoulder, hip, ankle, foot, headache, and psychiatric disabilities due to insufficient development.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is dismissed because he has received a 100% rating for PTSD and SMC based on the same period, rendering his other service-connected disabilities moot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder condition and hypertension due to missing private treatment records. The Appellant is seeking a higher rating for these conditions, which are currently rated at 30% and 10%, respectively.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right shoulder disorders, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, and wrist conditions claimed as due to exposure to hazards during the Persian Gulf War. The Veteran's joint pain is attributed to his service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury and back disorder due to new evidence submitted. The case is now remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right ankle condition and status post rotator cuff tear, right shoulder due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran needs further examinations to clarify diagnoses and provide etiology opinions.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals regarding the increased disability ratings and service connection claims. The Board dismissed these appeals due to the withdrawal request.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for further evaluation due to a material worsening of his symptoms since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal of the increased rating claim for depressive disorder is dismissed. The Board has also remanded his service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, hip, and foot disabilities. The Veteran is also being asked to provide an examination to assess the severity of his service-connected degenerative arthritis and IVDS of the thoracolumbar spine.