Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased ratings are set at March 4, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing a supplemental VA opinion regarding his left knee disability.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, with limitation of motion prior to September 29, 2015, does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement is currently rated at 30 percent from October 4, 2017. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the evidence does not show his range of motion has been limited to midway between the side and shoulder level.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's right shoulder disability due to inadequate testing in previous examinations. The issues related to the rating and effective date are also remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the right shoulder issue.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities including right shoulder, left arm, cervical spine, bilateral knee, binocular vision, and hearing loss disabilities due to the Veteran's failure to attend VA examinations scheduled in November 2009.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a left shoulder condition, as well as the Veteran's cause of death. The claims are being remanded to consider nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's right shoulder osteoarthritis was rated as 20 percent disabling since November 17, 2015. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional impairment or pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for VA examinations to address the etiology of his claimed disabilities, including lower back, shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, and ankle musculoskeletal conditions, skin disability, headaches, and eye disability. The examination results will determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability was reopened, and he is now granted service connection. The right knee condition and tinnitus claims were denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a thoracic spine disability, but has remanded the issues of service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and plantar fasciitis disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including shoulder, wrist, knee, ankle, and respiratory disabilities, were denied as there was no evidence of current disability or a link to service.,Service connection is also denied for an enlarged prostate and bilateral testicle disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied prior to July 9, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. The decision also noted that the Veteran had new and material evidence to reopen her claims of service connection for right hand tendonitis and left hand tendonitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder impingement syndrome, left knee pain, right knee pain, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and memory loss, have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development and an examination due to incomplete records, lack of unit history research, and other remand directives not being carried out.

The Veteran's service-connected gunshot wound of the left arm with retained foreign bodies is rated at 10 percent, which reflects a moderate disability. The Board found that his condition does not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has restored the Veteran's right shoulder disability rating from 30% to 20%, effective July 1, 2014. The evidence did not show sustained improvement in his condition under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist condition, right wrist condition, penis condition, sinus condition, and migraine condition have been denied. The claim for service connection for sinus condition has been reopened, but the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder remains unresolved.