Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for shoulder disability and hypertension due to insufficient evidence in their favor. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he asserts are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthralgias, to include arthritis, other than of the thoracolumbar spine, left shoulder, and left hip. The case is being returned due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and a back disability due to inadequate opinions in the February 2020 etiology opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and depression, but denied service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities and lung disability. The Veteran's hypertension is related to his service, while his depression onset during service. Lung disability was not shown to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, as well as a supplemental opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The issues of service connection for right ear hearing loss, rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tear, and TDIU are all remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on several conditions have been withdrawn. The claims for right ankle disability, chronic kidney disability, and PTSD rating are being remanded due to the need for additional examination or evidence. The claim for chronic kidney disease has been reopened based on new evidence.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD) due to a lack of evidence showing that her current condition is related to her military service.,The Board remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for Right-Shoulder Disorder, as secondary to and/or aggravated by service-connected Right-Knee Disorder. The case was returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has decided to remand several issues, including the Veteran's claims for service connection for his bilateral thigh disability as secondary to his service-connected back disability and for increased ratings of various disabilities. The decision also includes a request for additional VA examinations and an updated VA Form 21-8940.

The Board denied service connection for an upper respiratory disability, finding no evidence of a current respiratory disability.,Service connection was also denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD with moderate alcohol use disorder. The Veteran's symptoms were attributed to his service-connected PTSD and alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's chronic right shoulder disability is granted, and his bruxism is rated at 10 percent. The left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities are each rated at 10 percent from August 14, 2011 to September 16, 2019. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board found no evidence of a compensable disability.,The Veteran's right shoulder disorder and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity are not service-connected. The Board determined that these conditions did not begin during service or were caused by his already service-connected left shoulder disability.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board found no evidence of a compensable disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, effective from the date of his death. The issue of entitlement to SMC on account of being housebound is considered moot due to the grant of the greater benefit.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims. The Board affirmed the denial of these claims in multiple decisions.

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for the thoracolumbar spine condition and right shoulder condition are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a left shoulder disability due to lack of new and material evidence, while remanding the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability and cardiac disability have been granted. The decision also includes a remand for further development regarding other issues.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are being remanded due to the receipt of new and material evidence. The rating for right sciatic radiculopathy is also being remanded.

The Veteran's headaches are granted a 30% rating, and his right shoulder (post-open reduction internal fixation) and left shoulder chronic impingement syndrome each receive a 20% rating. The initial rating for right patellofemoral pain syndrome remains at 10%.