Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board has found that there are potentially relevant private medical records not in the Veteran's claims file, which may have bearing on a decision regarding his right shoulder impingement syndrome and binasal inferior quadranopsia visual field defect. The case is therefore remanded to attempt to obtain these records.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder laceration injury with functional disability and a left shoulder scar, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities had their onset during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right shoulder scars and SMC for loss of use of her right arm is remanded. The extension beyond December 1, 2016, of a total disability rating for convalescence following surgery related to service-connected residuals of right humeral joint injury remains denied.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions, including residuals of cold injury and nerve disorders. The only issue remaining is the claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board dismissed the appeals seeking service connection for PTSD, left shoulder tendonitis, right wrist tendonitis, and right forearm tenosynovitis due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher than 20 percent evaluation based on limitation of motion to no more than 45 degrees in all directions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of right shoulder injury is denied, and the claim for chronic residuals of a left facial injury is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability was granted, and he is now entitled to a 10 percent rating for his painful right shoulder surgical scar. The psychiatric disability (PTSD) claim has been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disorders due to incomplete records. The Veteran must provide additional medical evidence from his private healthcare provider, WellCare.

The Veteran's appeal of the increased rating for tinnitus is dismissed.,The Veteran’s claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and PTSD), a neck condition, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right arm condition, hypertension, low back condition, and bilateral foot condition are remanded.,The Veteran wishes to withdraw his appeal of the increased rating for tinnitus. The claim is dismissed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder strain and subacromial bursitis, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability based on service-connected disabilities, as his service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantial gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete records and a need to verify details of an in-service vehicle accident. The Veteran's current shoulder disabilities are being evaluated again.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between his current right shoulder disability and his service-connected right elbow disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were dismissed.,Service connection was granted for right shoulder degenerative arthritis status post hemiarthroplasty with ankylosis, OSA, and a bilateral lower extremity disorder to include peripheral neuropathy and periodic limb movement/RLS.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right shoulder disability, including whether it is related to service or preexisted service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, which includes a post-surgical change and rotator cuff injury following a shoulder dislocation, has not resulted in limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side. As such, the claim for an evaluation higher than 30 percent is denied.

The Veteran's left shoulder condition was granted a rating of 20 percent prior to August 25, 2011, based on limitation of motion at shoulder level.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition and a back condition due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability and loss of sense of taste due to inadequate VA examination opinions and the need for additional evidence.