Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The AOJ also dismissed the claim of an earlier effective date for left hip degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis is granted service connection, and her back, left knee, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities are denied. The heart disability and left shoulder disability claims are also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to care provided by VA.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during active service. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s sleep apnea is related to service or proximately due to his service-connected PTSD. The issues of acid reflux, alopecia, diverticulitis, migraines, athlete’s foot of the right foot, athlete’s foot of the left foot, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, chronic bronchitis, hemorrhoids, right foot heel spur, left foot heel spur, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and pseudofolliculitis barbae are remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to active service or a pre-existing disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability require additional development due to incomplete medical records and lack of consideration of the Veteran's reports of in-service aggravation.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome is currently rated at 20 percent after December 2, 2014.,Folliculitis of the occipital scalp was granted a rating of 30 percent effective from December 2, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities were denied as there was no evidence of a chronic disability in or caused by service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have an in-service injury, and his current conditions are more likely due to age-related wear and tear rather than service.

The Veteran's marginal employment and the severity of his nonservice-connected disabilities were not fully evaluated, necessitating further development.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is now rated at 40% from May 27, 2011, and his cervical spine disability is rated at 30% from September 2, 2010.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (claimed as an eye condition), peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower and upper extremities, left shoulder disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted, and he is also granted service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability due to incomplete records and inadequate opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected malignant melanoma of the left shoulder is rated at 10 percent, effective April 30, 2009. The Board granted a higher rating based on pain in the scar.

The Veteran's fecal incontinence is granted as service connected, and the issue of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for keloid scars of the chest is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a back disability. The Veteran's left shoulder claim is referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's residuals of the left shoulder dislocation are rated as 40 percent disabling, which is the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5200.,Prior to May 18, 2018, the Veteran’s left ulnar neuropathy was rated at 30 percent. From May 18, 2018 onwards, her rating for this condition is unchanged.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to February 2, 2018 and in excess of 30 percent on and after this date for service-connected left shoulder impingement syndrome has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disabilities is remanded.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right femoral nerve was granted service connection effective December 24, 2014.,A scar of the right leg was also granted service connection effective December 24, 2014. The rating for this condition is currently at 10%.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder received a 10% disability rating effective December 24, 2013.,GERD and IBS were granted service connection effective December 24, 2014. The Veteran is currently rated at 30% for these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased evaluations of the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability and hypertension. The issues of entitlement to increased evaluations for his service-connected right shoulder disability and varicose veins of the bilateral lower extremities are remanded.