Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and found that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is not related to his active military service. The rating for bilateral hearing loss was reduced from 40 percent to 30 percent, effective May 1, 2013.,The Veteran's appeal of non-service-connected pension benefits was dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability was denied as no new and material evidence had been submitted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is granted, with the condition being related to military service.,Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for a low back disability is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for a right shoulder disability is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for a skin disability is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for liver disease is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and a back disability, finding that the current diagnoses are not related to active service or service-connected conditions.,Service connection was also denied for other disabilities including hypertension, heart disorder, psychiatric disorders, insomnia, migraine headaches, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical evidence or lay statements supporting his claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder arthritis and left arm arthritis, including elbow and shoulder conditions. The evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen her claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of whether she is entitled to service connection for a sleep disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is granted service connection. The left knee injury and right knee injury are denied as not incurred in or related to service. Service connection for left ear hearing loss is also denied. A rating of 10 percent, but no more, for the right wrist condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right shoulder DJD and lumbar spine disorder due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is not service-connected as it did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury.,Diabetes mellitus was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's left knee disability, secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, was not addressed by the January 2013 VA examination. The issue remains remanded for further evaluation.,Bronchitis was diagnosed in January 2018 and is currently under review due to lack of a medical opinion regarding its etiology.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (depression) has not been addressed by the Board as there has been no attempt to verify the in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for costochondritis, right shoulder disorder, and hyperventilation/anxiety syndrome were denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or chronic condition related to his period of active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and increased ratings for his left and right shoulder disabilities. The decision found that there was no evidence of a chronic low back disability in service or within one year after separation, and that any current low back disability is not related to military service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, which includes dislocation and degenerative joint disease, has been rated at 20 percent since July 28, 1992. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted as the evidence does not support an increase in his disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and a VA examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current right shoulder disability.

Service connection for lumbar spine disability and left knee disability is granted as new and material evidence has been received.,Service connection for left shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and sleep apnea are denied. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disability is granted.,A rating more than 20 percent for a right shoulder disability is denied, as well as a rating more than 10 percent for right knee disability and tinnitus. A compensable rating for hemorrhoids is denied, and a rating more than 30 percent for herpes is denied.,TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his right shoulder sprain was dismissed. The Board granted a TDIU effective February 11, 2008, due to the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for a TBI and initial ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions. The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood is rated at 70 percent. Initial ratings for his shoulder strains, wrist tendonitis, little finger strain, lumbar degenerative joint disease, knee patellofemoral syndrome, left ankle strain, right ankle strain, and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for arthralgia of the right and left shoulders, as well as his low back disorder, are remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability due to new evidence showing current diagnoses. The case is now remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of any current right shoulder disability.