Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is related to his in-service injury. The VA must provide an opinion on this matter.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for painful motion of the left shoulder due to status post left shoulder dislocation, capsular shift, and positive impingement syndrome. The maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5201 is 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, bilateral shoulder disability, right wrist disability, and knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The claims are also being remanded for additional examinations of his lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for lumbar spondylosis, service connection for a cervical spine disability and right shoulder disability, as well as his TDIU claim due to infeasibility of obtaining certain records and conducting necessary examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his right shoulder disability and lumbar spine disability, caused or aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, finding that the conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service. The VA examinations provided negative opinions regarding a nexus between the current shoulder disabilities and either the in-service injuries or service-connected cervical spine and upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the degree of functional loss with repetitive use over time for the Veteran's left shoulder impingement. The VA examiner is instructed to provide an estimation based on direct observation or necessary speculation.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's heart disability, effective as of April 17, 2019. The right shoulder strain remains rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not related to service.,The earliest communication from the Veteran that can be construed as a claim for major depressive disorder was received on June 8, 2016. The effective date of June 8, 2016 has been assigned for major depressive disorder as it is later than the earliest date of entitlement (April 27, 2016).,The earliest communication from the Veteran that can be construed as a claim for residuals of a surgical scar on his left shoulder was received on March 11, 2016. The effective date of March 11, 2016 has been assigned for the grant of service connection for residuals of a surgical scar on the left shoulder associated with left shoulder osteoarthritis as it is later than the earliest date of entitlement (May 13, 2003).,The effective date of June 8, 2016 has been assigned for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder. The effective date of March 11, 2016 has been assigned for the grant of service connection for residuals of a surgical scar on the left shoulder associated with left shoulder osteoarthritis.,The Veteran's left shoulder osteoarthritis is rated at 20% and remains unchanged.,The effective date of April 2, 2019 has been assigned for an increased rating to 50% for major depressive disorder (MDD) and somatic symptom disorder. The effective date of April 2, 2019 has also recharacterized the disability as 'major depressive disorder and somatic symptom disorder'.,The Veteran's MDD and somatic symptom disorder is rated at 70% since April 2, 2019.,A TDIU is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder and low back disorders due to inadequate etiology opinions in previous VA examinations. The file will be reviewed by a similarly qualified examiner.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and bilateral wrist disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service.,For lumbar spine disorder, the Veteran's symptoms were rated as less than severe, with no ankylosis or significant neurological impairment.

The Board has denied an increased initial rating for the Veteran's right shoulder disability and has remanded his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The current 30 percent rating is consistent with functional limitation of motion at midway between side and shoulder level. The Veteran's employment during the appeal period due to his service-connected disabilities, particularly his right shoulder disability, has not been fully evaluated.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, effective May 18, 2006. The Board denied an increased rating for the period from July 1, 2012 to February 18, 2020 and a rating exceeding 30 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, and degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine have been denied. The current ratings are considered appropriate.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for his service-connected left shoulder, right shoulder, low back, cervical spine, and right hip disabilities have been denied. The current ratings do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to insufficient medical opinions and further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disorder, left shoulder strain, and right shoulder labral tear, including SLAP, status-post labral tear repair due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to address his service connection claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for joint disabilities and headaches, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and increased ratings for his right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The evidence did not support granting these claims.