Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence showing an in-service injury or disease and that any current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as he did not file a timely substantive appeal with respect to the July 2012 rating decision, which addressed his claims for service connection for various conditions.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the September 2018 decision, resulting in a reversal of the initial compensable rating for right shoulder fracture from February 6, 2014 to April 29, 2018, and an increased rating of 30 percent disabling from April 30, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, back, right shoulder, right arm neurological, and right hand neurological disabilities due to outstanding VA and private treatment records not being obtained. The Veteran is also required to provide updated Army Reserve service personnel and service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating and earlier effective date for his right shoulder disability due to incomplete development, including scheduling of an examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received. The right ear hearing loss claim is reopened, but further examination is needed to determine if it is related to service. Similar considerations apply to the right shoulder and left knee issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, shoulder conditions, and PTSD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for his left shoulder condition and TDIU are being remanded due to conflicting findings regarding ankylosis of the left shoulder. The case will be returned for further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but further examination and opinion are needed to address the etiology of his left shoulder disability.,Sleep apnea is a new issue that needs to be addressed as it may or may not be related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service injury related to the condition.,The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition are all denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The claim for hypertension is also denied as there is no clear evidence that it began during service or is related to in-service stress.,The Veteran's claims for a left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition are remanded because the VA examiner has not provided an opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to his in-service slip and fall incidents.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted with a rating of 20 percent effective October 18, 2013. The issue of service connection for cervical neck strain has been reopened and granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and right shoulder arthritis due to potential issues with causation or aggravation by service-connected conditions. The claims are being returned to the RO for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board granted a TDIU based on the benefit-of-the-doubt doctrine, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine and osteoarthritis of the cervical spine with foraminal stenosis and intervertebral disc syndrome. The other conditions were denied as they are not attributable to service.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits is remanded due to the need for a complete vocational rehabilitation file and additional evaluations. The Veteran also needs to provide evidence of unsuccessful attempts at employment in his chosen fields.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder tendonitis and cervical radiculopathy do not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder strain and left shoulder contusion, but granted service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran's right shoulder strain is not related to his time in service, while the left shoulder contusion is considered due to a 1989 car accident. Sleep apnea was found not to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including joint pain, muscle pain, left shoulder condition, neck condition, bilateral foot condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, and respiratory condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,No current diagnoses have been established for these conditions.