Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The issues of service connection for various disabilities are now pending.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder tendonitis has been rated at 30 percent, but not higher. The disability is currently manifested by limitation of motion to no worse than midway between side and shoulder level.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA, diabetes mellitus, type II, and right shoulder disability have been granted.,Service connection has also been established for left knee disorder and bilateral plantar fasciitis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, sinusitis, right elbow disability, left foot disability, gastroesophageal condition (gastritis), left hip disability, and right shoulder disability are all found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The Veteran's hearing loss and shoulder disability are not currently shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability and a left ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service injuries.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disorders, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete examinations conducted by non-orthopedic specialists. The claims are being returned for further action.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease and left upper extremity radiculopathy are granted service connection. The bilateral shoulder disability, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis are denied. Service connection for the left trigeminal neuralgia is granted with a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder disability and left knee instability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, chronic neck condition, chronic back condition, right hip condition, right foot condition, and left foot condition. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right shoulder tendonitis and muscle spasms of the back were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the cases due to missing service treatment records and a need for additional VA examination or opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right knee disability and his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, cervical spine, and right shoulder disorders are remanded due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and loss of sense of taste, finding that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis or etiology related to active service.,Service connection was also denied for the Veteran's claimed loss of sense of taste, as there is no objective clinical diagnosis of such a condition.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral wrist condition, left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and a need for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a right shoulder disorder due to deficiencies in the February 2020 VA medical opinion and other issues needing further development.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome with degenerative arthritis, lumbar spondylosis deformans, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claim for a left shoulder disorder, as secondary to service-connected disabilities, due to insufficient medical opinions and failure to address aggravation.