Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for pituitary microadenoma and remanded the issues of service connection for left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, and initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder, back, and bilateral knee disabilities are granted. The claim for dry eye disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for some issues, including service connection for a bilateral foot condition.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection and rating increases need to be remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

A 20 percent rating for left knee meniscal tear (previously rated as residuals of a mid-shaft fracture of the left tibia) is granted from March 9, 2009. The issues of entitlement to service connection for other disabilities are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability. The claims for left shoulder and jaw disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the appellant's right shoulder disability pre-existed his military service and was not aggravated by it. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left shoulder disability, increased rating for left knee disability, and increased rating for bipolar disorder due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

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

The Board has denied service connection for left and right shoulder disorders due to lack of evidence linking the current disabilities to service.,Service connection was also not established for a respiratory disorder as there is no medical evidence showing it began during or was caused by military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tendonitis of the left shoulder and IVDS, lumbar spine with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The VA examinations did not include joint testing for pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing and, if possible, with range of motion measurements of the opposite undamaged joint.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine and right shoulder disorders due to insufficient opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is requested to provide any additional medical records, and a VA examiner will be asked to address whether his current conditions are related to service.

Effective dates of August 2, 2010 have been granted for all service-connected conditions and benefits.

The Veteran's claimed bilateral lower extremity numbness, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability are not service-connected as they do not have a direct link to his military service.,The Veteran's claimed lumbar spine disability is also not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder with depression and insomnia) has been granted. The appeal regarding the initial rating for the left shoulder disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to service. The claim will be reviewed again with a new examination and opinion.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to the lack of an adequate substantive appeal.,A new and material evidence request for service connection of headaches was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder disability and right elbow strain due to inadequate VA examinations that did not address direct service connection. The Veteran's current disabilities are claimed as related to an in-service injury during active duty.