Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and further development is needed.

The Veteran's claims of a rating greater than 10 percent for his left shoulder disability and service connection for bilateral pes planus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disability. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his right shoulder osteoarthritis and impingement syndrome, which he claims are related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder osteoarthritis and impingement syndrome, left shoulder osteoarthritis and impingement syndrome, right-hand trigger finger disability, and left-hand trigger finger disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible reports of in-service strenuous duties and medical opinions linking these disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD is dismissed.,Service connection for coronary artery disease, to include heart attacks, is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate November 2017 VA examination, which did not provide sufficient information about functional impairment during flare-ups and repetitive use.

The Board has remanded three cases involving cervical spine disability, left shoulder rotator cuff injury, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's right ankle disorder, manifested by pain, is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a left knee condition and a right knee condition are granted as secondary to service-connected hallux rigidus of the right great toe and right ankle disorder.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for right ankle surgical scars is granted at 10 percent, effective July 1, 2011 to November 19, 2019. The Veteran's left shoulder strain and right ankle tibiotalar DJD are both rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to lack of VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of her bilateral eye disorder, migraine headaches, right shoulder disability, and eczematoid dermatitis. The Veteran is required to provide updated treatment records and undergo VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, right shoulder, and left shoulder disorders due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination of the Veteran's right shoulder disability. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining additional relevant records and scheduling an appropriate examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right shoulder disabilities are not service-connected as they did not occur during a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 13, 2013 for the grant of service connection for left shoulder instability is denied.,The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection and increased ratings for cervical spine disability, right shoulder strain with instability, left shoulder instability, and lumbar surgery scar, status-post laminectomy.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 16, 2012 and May 10, 2014 are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, and shoulder disabilities were denied. The claim for a back disability was not addressed as it is considered part of the service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder not otherwise specified is granted a 50% rating from October 2, 2019. The right shoulder rotator cuff repair/traumatic dislocation with residuals remains at a 10% rating. Both issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right wrist fracture and right shoulder strain are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the most recent VA examination.,The Board found that the August 2017 VA examination was insufficient under Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016), and thus these claims must be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the VR&E benefits claim due to pending appeals for compensation purposes, including service connection and a disability rating for PTSD. The Veteran's ability to obtain suitable employment is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing updated opinions from VA examiners.