Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied prior to August 3, 2016 and remanded for further evaluation of his TDIU claim from August 3, 2016 to August 16, 2018.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder, lumbar spine, tension headaches (claimed as secondary to neck and back pain), right knee, and left knee disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and examination to determine if his current disabilities are related to service, including any in-service injuries or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to address his GERD symptoms and right shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is not related to his active military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities, as he contends that they are secondary to his service-connected fungal skin condition and furunculosis. The VA examinations did not address the question of aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee and left knee disabilities, as well as for cirrhosis of liver (hepatitis B), but has remanded the issues regarding right shoulder condition, bilateral foot condition, acid reflux, rashes over body, sinus and headache condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and an initial rating for bilateral heel spurs, finding that there was no current diagnosis of either condition and thus denying both claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, increased rating for a right shoulder disability, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence in some of the VA examinations provided. The Veteran will be given new VA examinations to determine the likely etiology of his current disabilities and their severity.

The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right and left shoulders have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's left shoulder separation and right shoulder arthritis have been granted higher ratings effective April 26, 2019.,A rating of 30 percent for the left shoulder is granted beginning September 30, 2009.

The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder conditions, as well as a back condition. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions were related to his military service.,Service connection for hypertension was also denied, with the Board finding no relationship between the Veteran’s hypertension and his diabetes mellitus type II.

All claims for service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of left shoulder surgery, finding that his current disability is not related to service and concluding that there is no nexus between his post-service injuries and surgeries and any in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for various disabilities, including sleep disorder, respiratory disorder, acne scar disability, right shoulder disability, thoracolumbar spine (back) disability, left and right wrist disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, shin splints, and ankle disabilities have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain with glenohumeral instability is rated at 30% effective May 2, 2008. The Veteran’s thoracic spine degenerative arthritis is rated at 10%, 20%, and 40% for different periods of time. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted effective January 1, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to service, including Gulf War service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities are related to his military service.