Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right shoulder impairment, and bilateral knee condition. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent evidence linking his current conditions to military service.,There is no medical evidence or credible lay statements indicating that the Veteran's current spinal disorders or right shoulder impairment are related to his time in the military.

The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to his death prior to the issuance of an appellate decision.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for left and right shoulder disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's symptoms have been linked to in-service noise exposure, but further evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability was received on February 23, 1988. The effective date of the award of service connection is set to this date.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent, as the evidence does not show that it warrants a higher rating.,Service connection for left shoulder disability and Crohn’s disease are denied because there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's rash of the right foot and anxiety disorder do not have current diagnoses or etiological links to service. Service connection for acute myeloid leukemia was also denied due to a lack of in-service diagnosis.,The Veteran has not provided sufficient credible evidence to establish that any of his claimed conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as right total knee replacement, is granted as secondary to service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for protein in urine, hyperlipidemia, frostbite of the left hand, left foot, and right foot have been dismissed. The claim for service connection for hyperlipidemia has been denied as it is not a disability for which VA compensation benefits are payable.,Service connection for frostbite of the right hand was denied. Service connection for left knee disorder, cervical disorder, liver disorder, albumin (as secondary to liver disorder), hypertension, Lyme disease, and gout were all remanded.

The Veteran's application to reopen his service connection claim for a cervical spine disability was denied. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to missing records from the Moncrief Army Medical Center. Additionally, an SOC is needed on issues of increased ratings for knee conditions, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and service connection for hammertoes, sleep apnea, toe fungus, sinusitis, rhinitis, hearing loss, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, left forearm disability, right shoulder disability, and right forearm disability.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable rating for residuals of a fracture of the right 7th rib, service connection for left shoulder disability, and service connection for right shoulder disability are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pelvic floor vaginal pain and left-shoulder disorder has been reopened, but the claims are denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder strain, bilateral wrist strains, and bilateral foot disabilities (including mild decreased longitudinal arches). Service connection was denied for chest pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims are granted for osteoarthritis of the shoulders, knees, OSA, hypertension, CHF, diabetes, and PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including skin disorders, hearing loss, bladder disorders, heart conditions, kidney diseases, and extremity impairments have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service exposure to toxic substances.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection was granted for a left eye disorder, but denied for right shoulder condition, lower back condition, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability and degenerative disc disease with anterolisthesis of the lumbar spine are not shown to be related to his military service, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants TDIU. The claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete examination reports and failure to obtain relevant medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current shoulder disabilities are related to his active duty service. The case will be sent back for a VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death. The appellant needs a VA medical opinion on this issue.