Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disorder is being remanded due to the submission of additional VA treatment records that have not been considered by the AOJ.

The Veteran's left shoulder arthritis and impingement syndrome rotator cuff arthropathy are granted as service-connected.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for right ankle strain from February 24, 2016 is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, right elbow disability, and right hand disability. The cases are remanded for further development.,The evidence does not support a finding that any of these disabilities began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a right shoulder disability, including pain and numbness. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these symptoms are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether his current condition is related to service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, cervical spine, and headache disorders. The VA examinations were not sufficient to determine if these conditions are related to active service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not cause the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, thus denying his claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete development of evidence. The Veteran's Social Security records need to be obtained, and new opinions are required regarding the etiology of his knee disabilities and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. The remaining issues of neck, right knee, left knee (secondary to right knee), right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder strain. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for right hip and left hip disabilities due to their potential secondary nature to service-connected knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for PTSD, psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and sleep disorder has been granted. A rating of 50 percent for headaches is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his shoulder injuries and PTSD, do not render him unemployable. The Board denied the claim for TDIU as he is capable of performing most jobs that do not require overhead work.

The appeals for service connection of the right elbow disorder, right knee disorder, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, and bilateral tinea pedis have been dismissed.,The application to reopen the finally disallowed claims of service connection for a bilateral hip disorder (Legg-Perthes disease) and lumbar spondylolisthesis has been granted. The appeals for these conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of his service-connected bilateral pes planus with degenerative changes at the first MTP and residuals of ganglion cyst of right 2nd toe and left 3rd toe with scars, as well as other service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is also being remanded for a VA examination to determine the extent of these conditions.,The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed disorders, including headaches, jaw disorder, left arm disorder, right hand disorder, and left knee disorder.

The Veteran is granted a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective March 7, 2015 due to service-connected disabilities that have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his residual scar from left shoulder surgery is denied. The TDIU claim is remanded due to the possibility of unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability and lumbar spine compression fracture has been reopened. The Board found new evidence that raises the possibility of substantiating these claims, but the case is remanded due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and bilateral shoulder disabilities, finding no evidence of in-service injury or chronic condition that would warrant granting these claims.