Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral foot condition. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder (secondary to right knee disorder), duodenal ulcer rating, and inguinal herniorrhaphy residuals. Additional VA treatment records are needed, and SSA records should be requested.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he is now entitled to benefits for his claimed conditions. The right shoulder arthritis claim has been remanded due to new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disorder, GERD, headaches (including migraines), hypertension, TBI residuals, seizures, lumbar spine disorder, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, right and left shoulder disorders, right and left wrist disorders, elbow bursitis, bilateral hand disorder, knee disorders, eye disorder, sinus disorder with nose bleeds, and face trauma have all been denied.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has not met the criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating above 20 percent for his right shoulder disability prior to May 30, 2017 was denied. His claim for an effective date of May 30, 2017 for a 50 percent rating for his right shoulder limitation of motion with fibrous union was granted. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating above 50 percent from June 5, 2017 was also denied. His claim for total disability due to individual unemployability was denied.

The Veteran's initial ratings for chronic sinusitis/rhinitis, left shoulder impingement syndrome, cervical spine degenerative disk disease, and left upper extremity radiculopathy were granted. The rating for anterior neck scar was also granted but with no assigned percentage or effective date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hernia, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, and residuals of a left great toe fracture may be related to service. However, additional medical opinions are needed to determine if these conditions were incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right leg injuries and knee disorders, have resulted in the loss of use of one lower extremity and affect his functions of balance and propulsion. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for specially adapted housing eligibility.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, right hip condition, right knee disorder, radiculopathy to the right lower extremity, and psychiatric disorder. Additional development is needed to obtain relevant medical records and determine if any acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder condition and cervical spine disability are granted. The TDIU claim is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating for the bilateral shoulder condition.

Your claims for service connection on multiple conditions have been remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for review of additional medical evidence.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for right shoulder strain and headaches.,There is no evidence that the Veteran submitted any formal or informal claims for these conditions prior to the effective dates assigned.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examinations and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements. The issues of service connection for various disabilities are being reviewed again.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition, finding that there was no evidence linking his current disability to any in-service injury or event.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected left ankle, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on functional loss or additional impairment.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection of an adjustment disorder, lumbar spine disability, and left knee disability.,Service connection was denied for a left shoulder grinding condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records. The initial compensable rating claim for a scar of the right shoulder status post-surgical repairs has been granted, but the issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right shoulder strain remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a left elbow disability, including as secondary to a service-connected disability due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding both direct and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a Statement of the Case regarding his right shoulder tendonitis claim. The lumbosacral strain disability remains at a 10 percent rating.