Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Veteran is denied an earlier effective date for service connection of a left shoulder strain.,The Veteran is also denied an earlier effective date for an increased rating for a right shoulder strain.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, vision loss as secondary to diabetes mellitus, headaches as secondary to diabetes mellitus, a back disability, neck disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, and right knee disability. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of onset during qualifying service or any related disease or injury in service.,The Board also denied service connection for these conditions based on secondary service connection to diabetes mellitus, which was previously denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for TBI, Right Shoulder Disability, and Right Knee Disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease, right ankle is dismissed. The claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a link between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, entitlement to TDIU, and special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound status for his spouse are all remanded due to outstanding requests for DRO hearings.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and missing treatment records. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left big toe disability. The Veteran's low back and hip disabilities are granted, but the knee and shoulder disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities are not service-connected.,The Veteran's tingling in his right arm is not service-connected as it is related to a service-connected disability (cervical spine) or due to an undiagnosed illness.,The Veteran's cervical spine arthritis and spondylosis are not service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected left inguinal hernia residuals do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran’s hernia scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.,Service connection was denied for bilateral shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee disorders due to lack of evidence supporting their existence or causation by service.,Service connection was denied for left ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of current disability meeting VA's definition of hearing loss.,Service connection was denied for tinnitus as the Veteran did not report having it during his STRs and medical records.

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

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings of his right knee, cervical muscle sprain, chronic lower back strain with degenerative joint disease at L5-S1 (lumbar spine disability), and right shoulder strain are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of each disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of all pending claims.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to February 10, 2020, and in excess of 40 percent from February 10, 2020 for a low back disability.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the period prior to February 10, 2020 for GERD.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for the period from February 10, 2020 for IBS and GERD.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for retropatellar pain syndrome of the right knee.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for retropatellar pain syndrome of the left knee.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a compensable disability rating prior to February 10, 2020, and a rating in excess of 10 percent from February 10, 2020 for a left ankle disability.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a compensable disability rating prior to February 10, 2020, and a rating in excess of 10 percent from February 10, 2020 for a left wrist ganglion.,The Veteran's petition to reopen service connection for right shoulder disability based on new and material evidence has been dismissed.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and adjustment disorder.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding service connection for a neck disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied as he does not meet the VA standards for a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, elbow disorder, wrist disorder, hip disorder, knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder (other than right ankle sprain), shoulder disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.,The Veteran's claim for a cervical spine disorder has also been remanded as no VA examination addressing the direct or secondary theory of entitlement was conducted.,His claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for shin splints, left leg and right leg have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for left inguinal hernia, epididymo-orchitis with orchiditis and hydrocele, tinnitus, right eye condition, and left shoulder condition have been withdrawn. The appeal for anxiety and depression has resulted in a grant of service connection.,Tinnitus remains at 10%.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder condition, bilateral hip conditions, and ischemic heart disease due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims are not granted as there is no competent medical evidence linking his current disabilities to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for shoulder and ankle disabilities have been denied. The case has been remanded to schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine the nature of his claimed ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, which includes rotator cuff impingement syndrome and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence does not show that his condition meets or approximates the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the service connection of right ankle, left ankle, right knee, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities.