Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and denied the remaining issues. Service connection is granted for right shoulder labrum tear with a rating of 20 percent.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that an increased rating beyond this level is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active duty and are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for eczema is granted. Claims for right shoulder, elbow, hip disorders, and TBI are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service. CTS claim is also denied.

The Board has granted reopening of the claim for service connection for bilateral knee disorders and awarded a 10% disability rating effective August 9, 2016. The claims for low back disability, neck disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, fibromyalgia, and acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety) were denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back and bilateral shoulder disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's conditions are being reviewed again with new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The Veteran has also had his previously denied claims of service connection for knee disorders reopened.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left shoulder disability was denied as the evidence did not show impairment of motion to a degree warranting a higher rating.

The reduction of the rating from 20 percent to noncompensable for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, effective June 1, 2012 was improper and restored a 20 percent rating. The issue of an increased rating for right shoulder impingement is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder degenerative joint disease and remanded the issues of service connection for lumbar degenerative changes with radiculopathy and acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is now pending again due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The Board is requesting verification of herbicide agent exposure, obtaining treatment records, and seeking addendum opinions on the etiology of his disabilities.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is not related to service and was noted on pre-induction examination prior to service.,There is no evidence of a current left shoulder or right shoulder disability, arthritis of the upper extremities, or left knee disability at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim. The Veteran's current disabilities are not linked to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to incomplete information about his self-employment and the need for updated VA treatment records. Additionally, a VA examination is required to assess the functional impairment caused by his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease with compression fracture, left knee strain, tinnitus, residuals of surgical scar, right lower abdomen, and residuals of surgical scar, right perineum.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities was granted with a 10 percent rating in an April 2003 decision. The Board denied the request to revise this decision on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, low back disability, and degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder are all granted with initial ratings.,Specifically, the Veteran is now rated at 40% for his service-connected radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities effective March 15, 2018. His service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee is also rated at 20% effective March 15, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disability. A new opinion is needed from an appropriate examiner.

The Veteran's left shoulder disorder is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The claims will be reviewed again with additional evidence and expert opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The claims are not granted at this time.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder condition. The claim will be reviewed again with a new examination or opinion.