Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that he was engaged in substantial gainful employment prior to October 21, 2011.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional information regarding the Veteran's employment history and to consider whether extraschedular consideration is warranted due to his shoulder disabilities. The earlier effective date for TDIU remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the appeal is granted in part. The extension of temporary total rating for left shoulder surgery beyond February 1, 2016 remains denied. The appeals for right shoulder, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder, hip, and ankle disabilities as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities due to lack of an adequate opinion regarding aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder superior labral tear from anterior to posterior (SLAP) lesion, finding that the condition is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service left shoulder dislocation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims for service connection, increased ratings, and evaluation of hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and insufficient rationale for finding no left shoulder disorder. The Veteran's service records show painful joints, but there is conflicting evidence regarding a current disability. A new examination is needed to determine if any diagnosed condition is related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.,The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.,The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.,The Veteran's claim for a sleep disturbance is being deferred pending receipt of requested records, but will be remanded if new evidence is received.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for right bicipital tendonitis and tendon repair scars is being remanded due to the need for additional examination.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for right knee strain with internal derangement status post arthroscopy with residual scar is being remanded due to the need for additional examination.,The Veteran's request for a temporary total evaluation is being remanded due to unclear basis of his claim, and will be deferred pending receipt of requested records.,The Veteran's request for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is being remanded due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the right shoulder disability claim and denied the claims for service connection for low back disability (including as secondary to knee disabilities) and increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities. The cases are remanded for further action.

The Veteran's initial ratings for lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, and right shoulder tendonitis have been denied as his conditions do not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking any current left shoulder disability to his active duty service.

The Veteran's mild left elbow tendonitis and anxiety disorder were denied. The right shoulder surgery was granted at a 30% rating, but not higher than the current 20%. The thoracolumbar spine condition with degenerative changes was granted at a 20% rating from June 18, 2015 to November 27, 2018. DEA benefits were denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, muscle spasms, sleep apnea, and hypertension.,No new evidence was presented to reopen previously denied claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection of migraine headaches, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims are remanded for further examination regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, left knee, tinnitus, diabetes, and head injury have all been denied.,There is no current evidence of a diagnosed condition in any of these areas.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability has been denied.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left ankle disorder is being remanded for further development.

The appeals for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, chronic left sternoclavicular joint disorder, left foot disorder, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed.,The appeal for PTSD has also been dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities as there is no current disability found, and the Veteran did not have a diagnosed condition during or recent to his claim period.