Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of complete medical records and incomplete VA examination opinions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder and increased rating for chronic bronchitis. The claims are being remanded to obtain medical records, Social Security Administration records, and an examination.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's left shoulder disability, finding that it did not result in ankylosis or other conditions warranting higher ratings.

The Veteran's claims for stomach condition and severe cramps, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), joint pain, muscle pain, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), obstructive sleep apnea, left eye condition, unspecified depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and tension headaches have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for stomach condition and severe cramps are denied as the evidence does not show a separate and distinct disability from his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's service connection for basal cell carcinoma and increased evaluations for various disabilities are granted. Effective dates prior to January 20, 2016 for the grants of these benefits are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot, right shin, left foot, and left shoulder disabilities due to a lack of current disability evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal disorder, cervical spine, trapezius and left shoulder disorder, hemorrhoids, and testicle varicocele due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran contends these conditions are related to service or secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a failure to appear at scheduled VA examinations. The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus, but his other claims are remanded.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for left shoulder disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and cardiac and kidney disorders. Service connection was also denied for diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, right shoulder and ankle disabilities, and headaches should be remanded due to incomplete development of records.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent disabling based on recurrent dislocation of the humerus. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure proper evaluation and consideration of all relevant factors, including possible separate ratings for associated disabilities.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's left shoulder strain with degenerative joint disease, finding that the evidence did not support such a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a sleep disability, including sleep apnea. The Veteran's left shoulder disability and chronic kidney disease are currently rated at 100% each, meeting the criteria for SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent each, but the Board finds that they do not warrant a higher rating due to limited range of motion.,The Veteran was denied TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a schedular or extraschedular TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development, including obtaining more detailed medical records and clarifying service dates.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from April 1, 2011 to November 18, 2015 due to service-connected disabilities. The rating period prior to September 25, 2010 did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% since December 11, 2017. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a respiratory disorder and increased ratings for right hip, right knee, and left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits has been remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a depressive disorder has been reopened and granted. The claims for right shoulder and left shoulder disorders have not been reopened.