Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, tingling right arm, and numbness in the small toe of the left foot. The Veteran's claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis and service connection for various bilateral and single joint conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board denied service connection for chronic bilateral hip disorder and shoulder disorder, as well as a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that his current conditions were related to his active service or secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, which reflects motion to shoulder level. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating as the range of motion was not limited to 25 degrees from side.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's earlier effective date claims for lumbar spine and lower extremity disabilities, as well as her service connection claims for a right shoulder disability (secondary to left shoulder) and a left eye disability. The issues of service connection for residuals of a head injury (to include headaches) and a neck disability were decided in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, left shoulder disability, and headaches to obtain additional medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and right elbow cubital tunnel syndrome, both secondary to his service-connected left knee disabilities. The Board also granted TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral cataracts, right shoulder cyst residuals, tinnitus, chronic fatigue, dizziness, numbness, short-term memory loss, and attention problems is granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for sinusitis and a headache condition is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions. The issue of TDIU is also inextricably intertwined with the rating claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is established for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection is remanded for a left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, respiratory condition (asthma), gastrointestinal disability (GERD, hiatal hernia, and Barrett’s disease), prostate disability, and skin disability (chloracne).,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD may be related to his hypertension.,The Veteran's current prostate disability is remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from January 11, 2008. The Board has remanded the issue of an increased rating for his left ankle disability.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted as service connected. The claims for a left shoulder disability, left knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability are remanded due to incomplete processing.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder and left foot disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to the in-service injuries.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of left hip, right hip, and right shoulder disabilities due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims are now remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and a left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active duty service.,For sinus bradycardia, the Board found no basis to grant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and higher ratings for his shoulder disabilities and pes planus. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service disease or injury leading to current disability, and that any current disability is not related to military service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for bilateral shoulders and foot fungus of the bilateral feet due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of in-service medical records and incomplete opinions regarding the Veteran's PTSD, TBI, and left shoulder disability. The claims for service connection are pending.