Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is remanded for further examination and medical opinion to determine if it is related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee arthritis and instability, right shoulder disability, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and residuals of a gunshot wound to the chest with COPD and pneumothorax. The remand includes requests for new examinations due to inadequate previous evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder arthritis as it is presumed to have developed within the first year after service due to age-related degenerative changes.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's self-reported history of shoulder symptoms and treatment, which is deemed competent evidence. The case will be returned for further examination or opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for eye sensitivity and right shoulder tendinitis due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies and defects in the recent VA shoulder and arm disability benefits questionnaire (DBQ). The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, effective January 4, 2013. Further clarification and additional evidence are needed for a proper evaluation.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was granted a 30 percent rating effective March 2, 2009. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating for the right shoulder after May 31, 2018 is remanded.,The Veteran’s claim for a separate rating for psychiatric impairment (claimed as sleep disorder) related to his service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea and right shoulder injury, status post rotator cuff repair due to additional development being required.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, and spine disabilities due to new medical evidence. The cases are now remanded for further development.,New evidence supports reopening of the Veteran’s claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, left elbow, right elbow, left wrist, right wrist, left knee, right knee, left ankle, cervical spine, and lumbar disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and reopened the claim of service connection for kidney stones. An effective date of April 21, 2017, is assigned for a 30% rating for right shoulder impingement syndrome, which was increased from 20%. The Veteran's right shoulder disability now warrants a 40% rating due to additional limitation during flare-ups.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder and right wrist conditions have not resulted in the required limitations of motion to warrant a higher rating.,Service connection for various disorders, including hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric conditions, has been denied.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability is denied as there is no evidence of its onset in service or otherwise related to service.,The Veteran's right and left shoulder strains are each rated at 20 percent, effective July 3, 2006. The appeal period for increased ratings has been extended to include the one-year look-back period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his bilateral knee disabilities, lumbar spine disability, and left shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a right shoulder disability due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 because the evidence did not support a finding that his additional right shoulder disability was caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or error.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of records, specifically regarding whether any left upper extremity disorder other than left upper extremity neuropathy is related to service or secondary to service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's initial 10% rating for left knee DJD prior to February 17, 2010 is granted. A higher rating is denied after that date.,The Veteran's initial 20% rating for left shoulder disorder is denied.,A higher schedular rating for right hip disability after February 2010 is denied.,A higher schedular rating for lumbar spine disability from November 2009 onwards is denied.,A higher schedular rating for right lower extremity sciatica prior to March 5, 2014 is denied. A higher schedular rating after that date is also denied.,A higher schedular rating for left lower extremity sciatica is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and mid/lower back disabilities due to inconsistencies in the VA examiner's report and the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for degenerative changes of the right shoulder and arm, as well as degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, were denied. The evidence did not show that the Veteran’s conditions met the criteria for a higher evaluation under any applicable rating codes.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the presumption of soundness at entry into service.,Service connection is established for left knee arthritis and right shoulder rotator cuff tear and arthritis due to in-service noise exposure.