Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to schedule necessary VA examinations as per a previous Board remand. The goal of these exams is to assess the functional impact of his service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical evidence on the etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions provided by the VA examiners. The issues include bilateral shoulder disability, right hand joint pain, bilateral elbow and knee pain, cervical spine disability, renal cell carcinoma, neuropathy of lower extremities, osteoarthritis of left hand ring finger, hypertension, hiatal hernia with GERD, atopic dermatitis, migraine headaches, and bilateral condylar flattening indicative of degenerative joint disease of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

The Veteran is granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the Board finds insufficient evidence to establish service connection for right shoulder disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and bilateral athlete's foot.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder impairment, finding that the available evidence does not show a causal relationship between the Veteran's military service and his current right shoulder condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for spurring of the thoracic spine and a higher rating for post-operative syndrome of the left shoulder (non-dominant) due to incomplete development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of his right shoulder disability and mood disorder during a hearing before the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hand arthralgia and denied the remaining issues of service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hand arthralgia is found to be related to his active service, while there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or relationship between his elbow and shoulder disorders with service. His left and right hand neuropathy are also not supported by the evidence.

The Veteran's disability rating for a residual scar, right shoulder surgery, was restored from 10% to 10%, effective September 1, 2015.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and ratings related to various disabilities have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's left foot disorder. The service connection for his left shoulder disorder is denied as there is no nexus between the current disability and any in-service event.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and residuals of shrapnel wounds to the left arm, right shoulder, and back were denied because no new evidence was submitted that related to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was denied due to a lack of verified in-service stressor.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities due to outstanding medical records and need for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a respiratory condition, including tuberculosis, and for a right shoulder disability. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left leg sciatica and lumbar spondylosis were restored, while other conditions remained unchanged or denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder, upper back, and lower neck disabilities, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to a March 1964 in-service fall.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has found that the Veteran's period of service from November 16, 2004 to September 1, 2009 is honorable. The Veteran’s claims for service connection are now remanded to determine if these conditions are related to his honorable service.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right shoulder, lumbar spine, right elbow, right knee, skin, and hemorrhoids disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine their current severity. The Veteran's sinusitis claim is also being remanded as the VA examiner did not provide a clear opinion regarding whether his condition had its onset in service or was otherwise etiologically related to active service.