Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the pending nature of his other service-connected disability claims. The Board finds that his TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with his other claims.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including STRs and private treatment records. The issues of service connection for various conditions are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition and depression are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a link to military service, including Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for right shoulder disability, right elbow disability, left knee disability, and GERD due to conflicting medical opinions and need for new evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and left shoulder disorders, but has remanded them for further development.

The Board has determined that the VA examination report is inadequate and an addendum opinion is required to address the Veteran's right shoulder disorders. The examiner should consider the Veteran’s statements regarding his symptoms and their onset, as well as any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that further development is needed due to a remand in a previous case and the need for updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's left shoulder disability will be evaluated again with an additional VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, left shoulder disorder, right inguinal hernia, and right shoulder impingement syndrome, chronic pain syndrome and biceps tendonitis prior to October 24, 2014 and from February 1, 2015 to March 12, 2015 were denied as the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in service or related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding increased ratings for various knee disabilities and service connection claims, including those related to psychiatric disorders, sleep apnea, hand and shoulder conditions, eye disorders, hearing loss, migraine headaches, and knee disorders. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional evidence regarding the Veteran's left shoulder strain, including verification of his service dates and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development and examination of the Veteran's right shoulder disability.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral foot disorders, right and left knee disorders, and right and left shoulder disorders. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records.,Service connection is not granted for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus as the evidence does not meet VA standards for a disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for some conditions, but denied for others. The appeal is granted to the extent of reopening and granting of service connection for cervical spine disability and bilateral lower extremity disabilities. Service connection was denied for Parkinson’s disease, left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, heart disability, constipation, GERD, neurogenic bladder, TIAs, left face drop (facial palsy), vocal cord dysfunction, left upper extremity atrophy, right upper extremity atrophy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. Service connection was not granted for sleep disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of left knee, lower back, and right shoulder injuries for further efforts to obtain service medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder arthritis and Raynaud’s Syndrome, finding no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD, right shoulder status postoperative labral tear repair, or tension headaches.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under DC 5201. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of limitation to 25 degrees from side or frequent recurrent dislocation of the scapulohumeral joint.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for her service-connected right shoulder degenerative joint disease with impingement syndrome is denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 20 percent, which was assigned based on limitation of arm motion to shoulder level.