Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's left shoulder disability is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, qualifying for TDIU. She is also entitled to SMC at the housebound rate due to her PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left shoulder DJD, right elbow arthritis, gastrointestinal disability (chronic constipation), neck disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder have been granted. The issues of service connection for neck disorder and right and left foot disorders are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's right shoulder arthritis is caused or aggravated by his service-connected Parkinson's disease and related residuals.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to the need for updated examinations and consideration of all his symptoms. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with his current increased rating claims.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and remanded the remaining issues due to new evidence. The Veteran's current major depressive disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder SLAP tear resulted in instability with infrequent dislocations, warranting a 20% rating for the entire appeal period. Right shoulder arthritis also caused painful limitation of motion, resulting in a separate 20% rating.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various conditions, including chest pain, sleep apnea, bilateral knee disorder, upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, right shoulder disorder, acne, facial scars, flatfoot, hypertension, memory loss, bipolar disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including panic disorder with agoraphobia and depressive disorder), and migraines. The remand requires obtaining relevant VA treatment records, conducting additional examinations to determine the etiology of diagnosed conditions, and scheduling a new examination for migraines.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, other than PTSD, and a left shoulder disorder due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral feet cellulitis, bilateral hip pain, and bilateral shoulder pain. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU rating is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD, alcohol use disorder with TBI is denied. The Board finds that the appropriate effective date for the grant of service connection for these conditions is August 18, 2017. Service connection for left arm, shoulder, hip, knee, and low back disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for his right shoulder disability has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of proper examination regarding the Veteran's right shoulder tendonitis, specifically failing to assess additional functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, to include bilateral flatfeet and foot pain.,The Board also denied service connection for a left shoulder condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left shoulder disability, and right hip disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The claim for hypertension is also being remanded as it may be related to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of skin cancer are also being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee conditions, as well as his right and left shoulder conditions, have been granted. Service connection has also been established for the lumbar spine condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability. The claims of service connection for left ankle and bilateral hip disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence. Service connection for TBI residuals is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment as of February 29, 2020. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his service-connected disabilities alone are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability.

The Veteran withdrew all of the issues on appeal, including those related to service connection for various disabilities. The Board has no further jurisdiction in these matters.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right shoulder disorder, bilateral knee disorder, right thumb disorder, bilateral elbow disorder, and right wrist disorder are all granted service connection.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, bilateral knee disorder, right thumb disorder, bilateral elbow disorder, and right wrist disorder. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.