Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for a right shoulder disorder was granted. The claims for increased ratings of the left hand, left knee, and right knee were remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for further evaluation. A TDIU claim is also pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for erectile dysfunction is dismissed as he withdrew his claim during the July 2017 Board hearing.,The Veteran’s claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability, pulmonary sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea), and right lower extremity nerve disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing secondary service connection theories.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a pulmonary sleep disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing the relationship between his obesity and service-connected disabilities, and whether it was caused or aggravated by his psychiatric disability.,The Veteran’s claim of service connection for a right lower extremity nerve disability is remanded as there are conflicting diagnoses in the medical records regarding this condition.,The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, left knee instability with osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing his functional limitations during the period from August 11, 2011 to September 2012.,The Veteran's claim of increased rating for left lower extremity sciatic nerve disability is remanded as there are conflicting diagnoses in the medical records regarding this condition.,The Veteran’s claims of increased ratings for depression are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing his functional limitations during the period from August 11, 2011 to September 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence that relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate his claims.

The appeal for an extra-schedular rating for PTSD is denied. The issues of service connection for acid reflux and right shoulder strain are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea and a left shoulder disability due to an inadequate VA examination in July 2016.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities due to lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the hips, knees, and shoulders, hypertension, and double vision have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder is not related to service, and the claims for right and left elbow disorders and shoulder disorders are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition, sleep disturbance, gastrointestinal (GI) condition other than GERD, and PTSD have been denied.,No new or material evidence was received to reopen any of the previously denied claims.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee disability is denied. A 10 percent rating is granted for the left knee disability, subject to regulations governing monetary awards. The Veteran's request for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability is also denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and right wrist conditions, but has determined that additional development is needed before these claims can be decided on their merits.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder condition and left hand/wrist condition, both claimed as arthritis due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's VA treatment records indicate current diagnoses of these conditions but a VA examination is needed to determine if they are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded several claims for increased ratings and service connection, including those related to the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, elbow, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, hip, knee, ankle disorders, sinusitis, TBI, tension headaches, PTSD, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as incomplete examination reports.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder pain, right shoulder pain, and an increased disability rating for total left knee arthroplasty. The Veteran's claim for a back condition is denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for respiratory and sleep disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease, PTSD, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left shoulder dyskinesis, eligibility for specially adapted housing assistance, and a special home adaptation grant. The appeals are pending further development.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected scars of the left shoulder, finding that two of his scars are painful throughout the appeal period. The decision does not address other issues such as TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease and a right elbow disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that there are missing, pertinent records that must be obtained prior to making an informed decision regarding the service connection claims. These records include VA outpatient records from December 2001 to 2015 and any private treatment records related to the Veteran's claimed disabilities, particularly those from Mercy Hospital in the early 2000s.