Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient examination reports and a need to review all available evidence.

The claim for service connection for a right shoulder injury has been reopened, and the case is REMANDED for further examination. The claims for higher ratings for low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and acquired psychiatric disorder are also REMANDED.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder condition, including a lack of examination addressing in-service events and treatment. Updated VA records are needed, and an opinion is required on whether his current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a right shoulder disability was granted effective February 11, 2016. He is now rated at 20% for this condition.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claims of service connection for left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right ankle disability are remanded.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability is reopened and remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed. The Board granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, but remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disability and a right shoulder/lumbar spine disabilities due to lack of medical evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeals because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for a left shoulder disability, left knee disability, and OSA due to inadequate examination and failure to address certain issues.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse, left shoulder disability, and scar residuals of shell fragment wounds have been granted increased ratings.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, chronic left shoulder disability, chronic left knee disability, and chronic right knee disability have been granted. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and chronic adjustment disorder) is being remanded.,Service connection has been established for the Veteran's chronic left shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities as a result of his military service.

Service connection for a right shoulder disability is granted. A disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist osteoarthritis is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus was at least as likely as not aggravated during active service. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his right shoulder torn labrum and biceps tendon with scar was dismissed as the Veteran's attorney withdrew the appeal on his behalf.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for sleep apnea due to new and material evidence. The claims for left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disorders are remanded as additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for right shoulder impingement, chronic low back strain with myofascial pain, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis due to inadequate examinations that did not consider flare-ups.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal and filed a claim to reopen a right shoulder disability on January 16, 2016. The effective date will not be earlier than the date of receipt of the application to reopen.

The Veteran's left shoulder sprain residuals did not result in limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side, and thus a rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.

The Board denied service connection for back, neck, left shoulder, right shoulder, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The claims were not reopened as new and material evidence was not provided.

The Veteran's right total shoulder replacement surgery is not due to his service-connected conditions, and thus he does not meet the criteria for a temporary total disability evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30.