Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hand conditions (including fibromyalgia), left shoulder strain, bilateral wrist strains, and bilateral knee sprains. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is also under review.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his claims for bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and low back disabilities due to incomplete records. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but has remanded them for further development and examination.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's claims, particularly regarding his service-connected conditions and exposure to Agent Orange. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder and knee disorders, but denied all other service connection claims due to lack of evidence linking current disabilities to service or Gulf War exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is reopened. The claims for osteoarthritis of the shoulders, hands, and back are denied. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed because he died during the pendency of his appeals for service connection for various disorders.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar disability, left arm disability, right shoulder strain, right wrist degenerative joint disease, left foot disability, and right foot disability due to new evidence received since the November 2009 rating decision.,Your current claim of service connection for a left arm disability is denied as there is no currently diagnosed condition. The Board found that your left arm was normal at separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various shoulder, elbow, and low back disabilities have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Board has granted service connection for Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the right shoulder, finding that it is at least as likely as not incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left shoulder strain with partial rotator cuff tear and lumbar spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, right leg, left hand, and right hand disabilities due to a cervical strain disability. The evidence does not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions are proximately due or aggravated by her cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding whether an MRI is necessary for evaluating the Veteran's right shoulder disability, which could affect his rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chest pain, arthritis (other than in the left shoulder), a left shoulder disability, and headaches have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of these conditions during or immediately following service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s current sleep apnea began during active service and grants this claim. Other issues of service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, atypical depression NOS, GERD, menstrual disorder, lumbar spine disorder, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, bilateral hip disorder, and anemia have been granted. The claims were reopened due to new evidence related to a previously denied claim for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected right shoulder, left shoulder, and left knee disabilities have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation. Additionally, a new claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression) has also been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and denied increased ratings for left shoulder strain, lumbar spine disability, lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, right knee instability, and right knee limitation of extension. The Veteran's current disabilities are currently rated based on their severity.

The Veteran's back condition, left shoulder impingement, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have been granted or remanded. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remains unresolved.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine has not been established.