Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is rated at a 70% effective from July 1, 2014. The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 23, 2016 for the award of a 70% rating for bipolar disorder. For bilateral shoulder conditions, the Veteran was denied earlier effective dates as no claim prior to December 15, 2016 was reasonably raised.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a left shoulder disability and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The matters are being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA outpatient treatment records, private treatment records, and information regarding the Veteran’s employment status and history.

The Veteran's hypertension, respiratory disability (including asthma, bronchitis, and dyspnea), right shoulder disability, and right knee disability are all remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including tension headaches and multiple shoulder injuries, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of various joints, all secondary to his service-connected psoriasis. The appeals are remanded for further development regarding an increased rating for psoriasis.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records from the Veteran's National Guard service period and seeking medical opinions to address the etiology of his bilateral shoulder, low back, and bilateral eye disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, right arm, and shoulder conditions as secondary to his service-connected lower back disability due to insufficient medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records, issue a Statement of the Case on his depression claim, and address the TDIU decision.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral shoulder disability and right foot disability. The issues include seeking service connection for these conditions, as well as higher ratings for other disabilities such as degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, left knee, right knee, left foot hallux valgus with left big toe degenerative joint disease, and hammertoes of the left foot. Additionally, the issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is also remanded.

The Veteran's left shoulder strain and depressive disorder have been granted service connection. The Veteran's depressive disorder has been granted an increased rating of 70 percent prior to August 27, 2018, but not for a higher rating from that date onwards. The issues of service connection for ED, hypertension, right shoulder dislocation, and TDIU have been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder and low back disorders, finding no evidence of a present disability or causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's previously denied claims for right shoulder, low back, and right ear hearing loss have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,A reopened claim for a low back disorder has been identified.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for a left shoulder condition, low back condition, and left knee condition due to the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain any substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational background since July 30, 2010.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, left ankle DJD, right ankle DJD, left knee DJD, right knee DJD, left shoulder DJD, and right shoulder DJD. The new evidence provided reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.,The Board has also reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for muscle spasm disorder, IBS, and osteoporosis. However, no rating assigned or effective date was determined as these claims are still pending.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for right shoulder bursitis, claimed as rotator cuff with numbness right hand, triceps bicep is reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder supraspinatus tendinopathy and glenohumeral instability, as well as residuals of a left pinky finger fracture. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injuries and his current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher initial rating for coronary artery disease, service connection for right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, bilateral peripheral vascular disease, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, including arthritis and associated headaches, has been reopened. Service connection is granted for this condition. The claim of service connection for a right shoulder disorder, including osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tear, is denied. The appeal as to the right ear disorder (ringing) is dismissed due to the RO's award of service connection.