Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in its previous decision regarding the absence of a clinically diagnosed left upper arm or shoulder disability. The Veteran's service records show complaints of back pain, but no specific complaints about her arms and shoulders during service. Post-service treatment records indicate intermittent pain in her left arm and shoulder area. The Board will reassess these records to determine if there is a connection between the current symptoms and service.

The Board has granted an initial 70 percent rating for PTSD, a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities, and denied service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for a temporary 100% rating for convalescence due to right shoulder surgery beyond May 1, 2013 is denied as her postoperative condition does not meet the requirements for convalescence past that date.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and he is entitled to a rating of 70 percent for his combined service-connected disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for Right Shoulder Degenerative Arthritis and Left Upper Extremity Ulnar Neuropathy are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current right shoulder disability, including degenerative joint disease and a likely nondisplaced labral tear. The case is being remanded for an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service injuries, and service connection is granted for both right and left shoulder conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for arthritis of the left shoulder, rotator cuff tendonitis of the left shoulder (secondary to service-connected arthritis), and lumbar spine disorder are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, deviated septum, tinnitus, glaucoma, and sinusitis have all been denied.,An initial schedular rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has also been denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder conditions, including capsulitis and tendonitis, are now rated at 20 percent effective from April 25, 2011. The Veteran also received a separate rating of 30 percent for his post-surgery condition with chronic capsulitis and tendonitis based on painful motion.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and granted service connection for left shoulder arthritis and right shoulder arthritis, finding that there is equipoise of evidence in favor of a link to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. The claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease was also denied.

The Veteran's left shoulder and right shoulder osteoarthritis, unspecified depressive disorder, hypertension, hepatitis C, headache, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are all granted service connection.,Service connection for sleep apnea is granted as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new VA medical examination that estimates the Veteran's functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. The VA is remanding the cases to provide further examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed due to her withdrawal of the claims.,A rating in excess of 30 percent for headaches was denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities, as the previous VA examination was inadequate and does not address secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder and back disabilities due to lack of evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing left shoulder disability was aggravated by active duty service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.