Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for additional disability due to VA podiatry treatment, as there was not substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has denied all service connection claims, finding that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right shoulder condition is not related to her service and remands the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's initial request for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability was denied prior to March 19, 2011. From March 19, 2011, to August 22, 2012, the Veteran received a 30% rating. Beginning August 23, 2012, he is rated at 40%. The case is remanded for further adjudication of TDIU.

The Board has remanded two issues: left shoulder instability and residuals of alveolar soft parts sarcoma, left trapezius muscle. The Veteran needs to provide additional evidence and undergo examinations for both conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, depression, and total disability rating due to individual unemployability have been granted. The claims for arthritis of the neck and lower back are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his depressive disorder and right shoulder injury with DJD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, right shoulder pain with arthritis, sleep apnea, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are all granted as service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar disc disease and related conditions, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as the Veteran's bilateral knee and left shoulder conditions. The issues of service connection for left knee condition, right knee condition, and left shoulder condition are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder disorder began during service or within one year of service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and requests for additional information. The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is being reviewed again with new evidence.

The Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain a medical opinion addressing direct service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability and whether his service-connected left ankle condition has aggravated his right shoulder condition.

Service connection was restored for TBI and right shoulder strain. The Veteran's left foot hallux valgus and Osgood Schlatter's disease of the right knee were not granted increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for left knee disability, hemorrhoids, right shoulder scar, or cervical spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to insufficient evidence of record regarding the Veteran's right shoulder and left ankle disabilities. The VA must provide a medical examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and his DIC benefits claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was denied.

The Veteran's DDD with osteoarthritis (claimed as cervical spine condition) and right shoulder strain have been granted service connection.,Service connection has also been granted for left shoulder strain with impingement, which is considered secondary to the Veteran’s DDD with osteoarthritis.

All claims for service connection or increased ratings have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Veteran's prostatitis with benign prostatitic hypertrophy (prostate disorder) is granted a 40 percent rating prior to January 3, 2015. The RO denied an excess of 40 percent at any time due to not meeting the criteria for 20 percent. For sinusitis, the Veteran's condition warrants a 10 percent rating based on three to six non-incapacitating episodes per year. Left ankle inversion injury is granted a 10 percent rating due to painful motion and instability. Esophageal spasm is rated at 10 percent under DC 7346 for hiatal hernia with two or more of the symptoms for the 30 percent rating of less severity. Right and left knee medial meniscus tear are each granted a 10 percent rating based on painful motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left knee and right knee impairments, and right shoulder impairment. The issues are related to exposure during his service in Iraq and Saudi Arabia due to Gulf War Syndrome.