Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right shoulder, right knee and left knee disabilities were dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals prior to a decision being made.,The Veteran's appeals for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and TBI, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left varicocele are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder disability, and bilateral flatfoot. The issues of service connection for these conditions have been resolved in the Veteran's favor.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right shoulder disabilities due to inadequate compliance with a previous remand directive.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board has determined that new examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee, lumbar spine, left shoulder, and left rib disabilities. The Veteran should be provided an opportunity to report for these examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, was granted. The claims for cervical spine and left shoulder disorders were also remanded due to insufficient evidence. Service connection for right lower extremity and left lower extremity disorders is denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to new evidence received since his last Statement of the Case. The Veteran is requested to provide information about any recent medical care providers and updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left shoulder injury and arthritis of the left shoulder, including hypertrophic changes of the AC joint, has been reopened. The Board finds that these conditions are related to his military service and grants service connection.

The Board has granted service connection and an initial rating of 30 percent for residuals of a left groin disability, as well as granting service connection for multiple conditions including bilateral shoulder disabilities, low back disability, left hip disability, right knee condition, and left ankle condition. The Veteran's PTSD is also rated at the maximum schedular level (70 percent) since May 22, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service. The Veteran's current diagnoses are attributed to post-service factors.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his right shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of recent treatment records.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20%, and the Board has remanded both his claim for a higher rating and his TDIU claim due to outstanding records that may support his claims.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection and rating of the Veteran's low back disability, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and tender left inguinal ligament require further development due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for sleep apnea and denied his claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability. The PTSD rating is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the Board found that none of his service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to his death. The cause of death was determined to be end-stage liver disease due to Hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, right hand, and left ankle disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is granted service connection. The claims for coronary artery disease and major depressive disorder are remanded due to lack of evidence regarding herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder disorder and gout have been reopened, but the new evidence does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss or a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right shoulder disability due to lack of legal merit, as the surgery was performed by a private physician in accordance with the Veterans Choice Program and VA had no role in the diagnosis and treatment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his time in service.