Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has found that the Veteran's heart disorder, left shoulder disorder, back disorder, and left knee disorder are not related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected left hallux valgus. The case is being remanded for additional medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, multiple orthopedic conditions, glaucoma, tinnitus, and anxiety with insomnia, have not rendered her unemployable since she retired from the Army in April 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability and a low back disability, but denied service connection for right shoulder and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for right shoulder degenerative arthritis is denied as the earliest allowable effective date is December 6, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examination and evaluation of his right knee disability following an arthroscopic partial lateral meniscectomy with lateral release in May 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, right knee strain, and right shoulder strain are related to his service. The decision is based on evidence showing these conditions began during his active duty.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for infertility, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, left wrist CTS, right hip disability, and left hip disability. However, further development is needed as there are outstanding VA treatment records and additional medical opinions are required to address service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic left shoulder arthritis post-operative resection of the distal end left clavicle is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given the current level of disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran incurred PTSD in his active service and resolves reasonable doubt in his favor. Other claims, including those related to lumbosacral strain, right shoulder strain, right ankle sprain, left foot strain, alcohol use disorder secondary to PTSD, and depressive disorder secondary to service-connected disability, are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.,There is no evidence to support that any of these conditions began during or were aggravated by military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability and heart disability are not service-connected. The decision on the heart disability issue is pending as it requires a remand for further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine and bilateral shoulder disabilities are related to service or his service-connected TBI.

The Veteran's PTSD, left shoulder disorder, and lumbar spine disorder were denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's impingement syndrome and bursitis of the left shoulder did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as the evidence did not reach equipoise on whether such impairment resulted in functional loss to an extent justifying a higher rating.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted, with the evidence being at least in equipoise that he has had hearing loss since service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for left shoulder conditions has been dismissed as the appellant and his representative have withdrawn their appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to herbicide exposure, including diabetes mellitus, left knee disability, hole in the palette (mouth), cyst in eardrum, left shoulder disability, right foot plantar fasciitis, and left foot plantar fasciitis. The records from San Diego VAMC and Fort Bliss VAMC are requested, as well as any SSA records related to his disability benefits.

The Veteran's appeal of the increased rating for bilateral tinnitus is dismissed. The claim for service connection for OSA and residuals of a TBI are reopened, but the request to reopen claims for PTSD, hiatal hernia and esophageal ulcer, and abdominal scar are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeals are granted as to the back disability, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and bilateral foot disabilities.