Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder is dismissed. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including vertigo, right and left wrist disorders, sleep disorder, right shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, actinic keratosis, nasal polyps, squamous cell carcinoma, acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder, depression, anxiety disorder), eye disorder (vitreous syneresis, floaters, panniculi), right knee disorder, left knee disorder, hernia, pulmonary hypertension, and allergic rhinitis have been denied. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss is not reopened and denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for migraine headaches is not reopened and denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for OSA is denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral ankle condition is denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for myoclonic jerking is denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability is denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for gastrointestinal disorder is not reopened and denied.

The Veteran's initial ratings for the service-connected right shoulder disability have been denied as his conditions do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and disability ratings for various conditions, including migraines, neck disability, back disability, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes, varicose veins of the left lower extremity, left shoulder disability, and anxiety. The Veteran's SSA records have not been associated with the claims file.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spine, left knee meniscus tear, and left knee instability disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or showing they are disabling enough to warrant higher ratings. The Veteran was also denied a TDIU as he did not meet the criteria for such an award.

The Board denied service connection for bone loss, neck disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral ankle disability as secondary to service-connected pleural disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left arm and shoulder disability, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus, type II are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found no new and material evidence to reopen them. The effective dates for grants of service connection or increased ratings were also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing SSA records that may be relevant to the claim for service connection of a shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disability, particularly related to her in-service ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA service.

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder, left foot disorder, and hypertension. The evidence does not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions are related to her military service.,There is no direct evidence linking the current diagnoses of right shoulder disorder, left foot disorder, or hypertension to the Veteran's active duty.

The Veteran's appeals of increased ratings and service connection claims have been dismissed. Effective dates for awards of service connection are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, migraines, left knee degenerative joint disease and tendonitis/tendinosis, right shoulder disability, right hip disability, and bilateral leg disability (knees, left hip) have been granted service connection. The Veteran's arm condition/tingling is not considered a separate issue as it is related to the left shoulder.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective February 1, 2012. The appeal seeks a higher rating for this condition.,The Veteran's right knee disability has been assigned separate ratings for instability and limitation of flexion. The instability rating remains at 10 percent prior to December 21, 2019, but the flexion rating is increased to 20 percent from that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted.,Effective May 24, 2017, the Veteran is now entitled to service connection for various conditions including Parkinson’s disease with weakness of the left lower extremity, right knee strain, instability and subluxation, loss of sense of smell, constipation, and other related issues.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis but remanded the issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction, claiming it is secondary to PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 25, 2005 for service connection of right shoulder rotator cuff tear with glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder condition, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and noting the absence of post-service complaints for nine years after discharge.