Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that additional information is needed regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inconsistencies in previous examinations and the need to review his SSA records. The issues of bilateral shoulder pain, back pain, hip pain, knee pain, leg pain, loss of balance, tremors in the neck and hands, neurological problems, chronic fatigue, erratic blood pressure, abdominal pain, stomach and intestine problems, spinal column tumor, seizures, residuals of stroke, heart problems, diabetes mellitus type II are all remanded for further review.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions are insufficient to adjudicate the Veteran's claims, particularly regarding his right shoulder disability. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and tinnitus disabilities. The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and bilateral foot/ankle disabilities are remanded.,Service connection cannot be granted for the Veteran's claimed left knee, right knee, and tinnitus disabilities due to lack of a current disability diagnosis or evidence of in-service injury or disease. The Board has also denied service connection for his left shoulder and bilateral foot/ankle disabilities as there is no evidence of an in-service event, injury, or continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The left ankle and left shoulder conditions are remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the issue of entitlement to a compensable initial rating for scars of the right shoulder and upper back. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left middle finger disability, right little finger disability, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and left knee strain are REMANDED.

The Veteran's status post melanoma in SITU of the left shoulder with radical excision and asymptomatic scar is not considered disabling under applicable diagnostic codes, as there are no other effects not considered in a rating provided under Diagnostic Codes 7800-04. The disability does not impair the function of the left shoulder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for right shoulder strain, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of a relationship between the current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left and right shoulder disabilities, hearing loss in the right ear, asthma, ischemic heart disease, headaches, PTSD, and depression have been denied. The decision also includes remanded issues such as sleep apnea and high blood pressure.

The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the right shoulder disability and has remanded the service connection claim for a lumbar spine disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of residuals of a left shoulder gunshot wound and remanded the issue of service connection for a left arm disability.

The Veteran's claims for neck, back, and right shoulder disorders have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.,Service connection for bilateral hip disorders was also denied in a July 2015 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder rotator cuff tear and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD). The right shoulder condition is related to the Veteran's in-service combat injury, while his psychiatric symptoms do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition and an initial compensable rating for left hernia residuals. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection, as there was no medical opinion linking the current conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and a compensable rating are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for right shoulder and low back disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support ratings higher than 20% for the period prior to June 11, 2014 and more than 40% thereafter.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions due to lack of new and material evidence, as the submitted evidence was cumulative or redundant.

The Veteran's left shoulder bursitis is rated at 20 percent, effective February 14, 2017. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include left shoulder bursitis and gastrointestinal issues (gastritis and IBS). Effective dates for the awards of service connection are being remanded.

The Veteran's request for an increased rating for right knee arthritis, service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss were all denied. The lung disability claim was also denied as there is no established in-service incurrence of a lung disability.