Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's ureterolithiasis is rated at 30 percent. The claims for service connection of lumbar spine disability, right arm and shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, sleep apnea, and heart disability (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on his service-connected right shoulder disability has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran’s representative.

The Veteran's residuals of a bilateral hand and feet cold injury have been granted service connection. The issues of bilateral foot disability and right shoulder disorder are remanded for further review.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea, spinal condition (cervical and lumbar degenerative disease), right shoulder disorder, hypertension, and skin disorder (psoriasis).,The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disabilities and sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions in these matters. The Veteran is not shown to have a hearing loss disability, and his right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities are remanded for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted. The Board found credible evidence that the Veteran witnessed a helicopter crash on his ship, which supports his claim of in-service stressors leading to PTSD. Service connection is also granted for a lung breathing disability. However, the issue of bilateral shoulder disability remains unresolved as there is insufficient medical evidence to establish its relationship with service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to address service connection for a cervical spine disability, as well as whether the Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tendinopathy with arthritis and impingement syndrome is related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate examinations in a previous remand.

The Veteran's appeal for automobile and adaptive equipment is being remanded due to the inextricability of his service connection claim for a bilateral upper extremity disability. The AOJ must combine both appeals before making a decision.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a chemical burn to the right hand have been dismissed. Service connection has been granted for left pectoralis major muscle injury, right pectoralis major muscle injury, left shoulder osteoarthritis and tendinitis (secondary), and right shoulder SLAP tear (secondary).

The Veteran's right shoulder condition has worsened since his last VA examination, and a new evaluation is needed to determine the appropriate rating.

The Board has denied service connection for right shoulder, back, and abdominal disabilities. The left jaw scar and acne issues are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not presented to reopen the previously denied claims. The Board found no in-service injury or disease related to the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for PTSD, cervical spine disability, and right shoulder disability was denied. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the prior decisions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's PTSD, left shoulder tenosynovitis, right shoulder tenosynovitis, lumbosacral strain, and diverticulitis have been rated at their maximum allowable levels. The Veteran’s right hand dermatitis has not met the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder condition, low back pain, bilateral knee pain, bilateral ankle condition, and right bicep condition. The Veteran's rhinitis was granted service connection.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran’s hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate examinations. The Board will seek new evaluations that comply with VA examination guidelines.