Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability, hepatitis C, and skin disability are pending.

The Board has denied service connection for right shoulder disability and remanded the issue of bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome due to lack of evidence linking current conditions to service.

The Veteran withdrew all his appeals, including those related to lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical spine strain, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability. The appeal for erectile dysfunction was also withdrawn.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the issue of entitlement to service connection for a sleep apnea syndrome. The Veteran's claim is being remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability due to new evidence. The case is remanded for further development and examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder, back, and right knee disabilities. The initial rating for PTSD was granted at a 50% level effective November 13, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service onset or aggravation.,Service connection for right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, low back disability, hepatitis C, and tinnitus has also been denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, left shoulder disorder, back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, and headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to non-compliance with previous directives. Specifically, VA treatment records from the Central Texas VA Health Care System need to be obtained and associated with the claims file.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, low back disability, and cervical spine disability. The case is being remanded to allow further development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left shoulder disorder is denied as the condition is not related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for sinusitis prior to March 22, 2012 and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including PTSD, back disorder, skin disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, neck disorder, upper extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection in all cases.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and a right ear hearing loss disability, finding no current disabilities or causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's near syncope (lightheadedness) is rated at 10 percent, while the glenoid labrum tear of the right shoulder remains at a 20 percent rating. The case for both issues has been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the appeals to determine whether these conditions are related to his military service remain pending.

The Board has decided the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and initial compensable disability ratings for postoperative scars of the left shoulder. The appeal for a higher rating for the left shoulder postoperative scars is denied. The appeal for a temporary total evaluation for rehabilitation of impingement of the left shoulder, postoperative is dismissed as there was no evidence of severe surgical wounds or immobilization by cast. The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for post-operative impingement of the left shoulder is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as it did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service and the weight of evidence does not support a finding that it is related to in-service acoustic trauma.,The Veteran's left shoulder labral tear is denied as there is no credible medical evidence or opinions linking the condition to active service. The examiner opined that the injury was more likely than not a recent injury, not caused many years prior by active service.,The Veteran's right shoulder labral tear is denied for similar reasons: lack of in-service injury and insufficient medical evidence connecting it to active service.,The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at 10 percent as the highest schedular rating available. The Board found that referral for extraschedular consideration was not warranted due to no marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.,The Veteran's gastro-intestinal undiagnosed illness is currently rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 7319, which is the highest schedular rating available. The Board found that referral for extraschedular consideration was not warranted due to no marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a left shoulder disorder and insomnia, as well as his claim for total disability rating due to individual unemployability, have been denied.,Specifically, the Veteran's left shoulder condition is rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His insomnia is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability was denied in 2008 and later reopened. The new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, so it is denied. However, the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability was reopened due to new evidence related to his Vietnam service. Service connection is granted for the bilateral shoulder disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, but denied service connection for his bilateral shoulder condition and neck condition. The case is remanded for further development regarding a compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss.