Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to August 18, 2011 for the grant of service connection for GERD with insomnia is denied.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C remains pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for lumbar arthralgia with lumbar spondylosis, right shoulder arthralgia, left shoulder arthralgia, left leg pain, and right leg pain are all pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension (high blood pressure) remains pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for dizziness, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) remain pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), claimed as a respiratory condition, remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases due to incomplete records, conflicting medical opinions, and lack of proper range of motion testing.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral shoulders and spinal stenosis, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to service or secondary to other conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis related to her claimed back, left shoulder, left knee, or right hip conditions. The claim for service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability and has also granted service connection for this condition. Additionally, the Board has granted service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is denied as she does not have a current disability.,The Veteran’s breast cancer with lumpectomy, including as due to exposure to hazardous materials, and her psychiatric disorder including PTSD (due to military sexual trauma and/or as secondary to breast cancer) claims are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's GERD claim is remanded in conjunction with the breast cancer claim.,The Veteran’s left knee, right knee, left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, left upper extremity condition (secondary to cervical spine condition), and right upper extremity condition (secondary to cervical spine condition) claims are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's left lower extremity and right lower extremity conditions are also remanded in conjunction with the breast cancer claim.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine and right shoulder conditions, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia and left shoulder disability have been remanded for further evaluation due to the need for additional evidence or clarification. The current rating of 10% for fibromyalgia is maintained, but an increased rating for the left shoulder disability remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment beginning September 29, 2008.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for cervical spine disability, a compensable evaluation for left shoulder impingement syndrome and degenerative arthritis, and a compensable evaluation for intermittent facial numbness of the left side of the face.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and that any current disabilities were not incurred during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability, and also because of a request for TDIU.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the claims of service connection for asthma due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, arthritis, and gastric condition (GERD).

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, back disability, and headaches. The claims are granted as new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as it is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The low back disorder, right shoulder disorder, bilateral hearing loss, urinary disorder, and prostate cancer claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for surgical scars of the left and right shoulders have been denied.,The issue of service connection for a right hip disorder, to include as secondary to the service-connected bilateral shoulder disability, has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder, knee, and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The claims are being returned for further examination and consideration.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation considering his level of education, work experience, and vocational training.

The Veteran's left humerus impairment with left shoulder limitation of motion is productive of frequent recurrent dislocation at the scapulohumeral joint, with guarding. A 30 percent rating for this condition has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, right ankle, left ankle, right foot, and left foot disabilities based on a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service duties as an aviation ordnance loader.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder was granted a separate 20% rating for the period from May 2, 1996 to April 12, 1999 due to symptoms associated with limitation of arm motion.