Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various joint disabilities, including right shoulder, left elbow, left knee, and bilateral foot disabilities. The Veteran submitted additional evidence in June 2017, which he requested be reviewed by an agency of original jurisdiction before the Board's consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected myositis of the mid-back is rated at 40 percent, effective March 13, 2018. The left shoulder disability has been increased to a 20 percent rating since June 2, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, COPD, CHF, emphysema, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, and mood disorder (also claimed as borderline intellectual functioning) due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during the appellant's ACDUTRA service.

The Board has determined that the VA contract examination and medical opinion are based on an inaccurate factual basis, and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's left shoulder condition had its onset in service or is directly linked to his time on active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including shoulder disabilities, erectile dysfunction, knee disabilities, and foot disabilities, all of which are claimed to be secondary to cervical spine and/or lumbar spine disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions have been incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back and right shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is asked to provide additional medical records, including chiropractic treatment records, and a VA examiner will determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity have been dismissed as they were withdrawn at his January 2019 hearing.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for multi-directional instability, right shoulder has been remanded due to new evidence submitted since the February 2010 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for left arm pain has been denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The service connection for ischemic heart disease is remanded as the issue involves a possible presumption of herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's right shoulder tendonitis and impingement syndrome are rated at 30 percent. The Veteran’s degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent prior to August 24, 2017 and 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve in both legs are each rated at 20 percent. Migraines are rated at 50 percent on an extraschedular basis. TDIU is dismissed.

The Veteran was granted effective dates of August 5, 2014 for service connection and a disability rating for right shoulder arthritis, scar status post-surgical repair right shoulder, and post-surgical residuals right shoulder. The claims were denied for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, left shoulder disorder, lung disorder, thyroid disorder, and headache disorder (secondary to service-connected disability).,The effective dates of August 5, 2014 are granted for the grants of service connection and a disability rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple knee and wrist conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to additional evidence being added to his file since previous decisions. The claims for service connection for neck and bilateral shoulder conditions, as well as an increased rating claim for left knee disability, are now subject to further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and her left knee disability has been granted. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left forearm nerve disability and left shoulder disability, finding no in-service event or injury that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for whether new and material has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for acromioclavicular separation with degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder, and entitlement to an initial compensable rating for eczema have all been dismissed. The appeals for the remaining issues are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder and left knee conditions have been reopened, and the claim for a left knee condition has been granted. The claim for a left shoulder condition is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected mental health and lumbar spine disabilities. From July 11, 2013, to February 20, 2014, the Veteran's depressive disorder was rated at 30 percent; from February 21, 2014, forward, it is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability was granted, with a 20% rating effective from November 1, 2007.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral upper and lower extremity. The case is remanded for further development.