Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral shoulder and cervical spine disorders. The examiner must consider the Veteran's lay statements about in-service injuries.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5201. The evidence does not show limitation of motion to a degree warranting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of right and left shoulder bursitis are related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board previously denied service connection for right shoulder, back, and neck disorders. The Court has ordered the remand of these issues due to an error in failing to evaluate the Veteran's assertion that his current disabilities are related to a fall during service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection and whether new and material evidence was obtained to reopen claims for various conditions. The Veteran's character of discharge is also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active duty service.,Right Shoulder Disability: Degenerative joint disease was diagnosed many years after service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for left shoulder AC separation (shoulder dislocation) and its residuals, including arthritis, tendinosis, and bursitis, is granted. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury and persistent symptoms since discharge.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (schizoaffective disorder and PTSD). The rating for the Veteran's left foot disability was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between the current condition and service. The Veteran's symptoms began decades after service following many years of work.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including left hip pain, left shoulder pain, neck pain, right hip pain, right shoulder pain, sleep apnea, facial scars due to injury, and headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the pubic symphysis is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted due to lack of limitation of motion and no incapacitating episodes.,The Veteran’s left shoulder disorder, lower back disorder, left hip osteoarthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis are all remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neck and left shoulder conditions, which may be related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, finding that the Veteran's condition did not have onset in service and is not related to his right shoulder disability. The rating for his right shoulder disability was also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left shoulder, left hip, right little finger, and low back disorders due to insufficient evidence in his service treatment records.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines. The issues of PTSD, sleep apnea, knee disabilities, and shoulder conditions are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination reports and the need for additional information regarding functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records from a period of active duty in the U.S. Air Force, and requests that the Veteran provide information about any additional periods of service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board has granted a higher rating of 40 percent based on his limited range of motion to 25 degrees from the side.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability and remanded it. The rating for his acquired psychiatric disability is granted at 70 percent, effective from July 27, 2016 to January 10, 2017.