Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence of current disability severity and a need for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability as secondary to his right shoulder disability and for TDIU prior to September 24, 2011 due to incomplete records. The Veteran needs to provide SSA wage earnings statements and VA treatment records from September 2017 forward. An additional medical opinion is needed regarding the relationship between the left shoulder disability and service-connected right shoulder disability.

Service connection granted for sinusitis. Effective date prior to February 19, 2014.,Service connection denied for left and right shin splints. Effective dates prior to February 19, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right shoulder conditions and his in-service helicopter crash injuries, as well as whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by other service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeal as there was no case or controversy before it. The Veteran's earlier effective dates, increased ratings, and total disability rating claims were decided in a May 2019 decision. A May 2020 rating decision granted service connection for headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder deterioration, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disorder, to include as secondary to degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine.,The Board also denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder, to include as secondary to degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine.,Service connection was not granted for a left shoulder disorder, as there is no evidence showing it began during service or is related to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right knee brace caused wear and tear to his pants in 2018, leading to a clothing allowance for that year.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck, right shoulder, stomach, and body lumps disorders due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during or were related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied. The claims for service connection for left knee pain and dysfunction, right knee pain and dysfunction, low back pain and dysfunction, and right shoulder pain and dysfunction are also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied. The appeal to sever service connection for neuropathy, right lower extremity, and the appeals for service connection of right shoulder disability and high blood pressure were all denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a healed open dislocation of the left fifth digit at the PIP joint, a scar on the left hand, and right and left shoulder disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.,Service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the appeals for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right shoulder disorder are being remanded due to new evidence. The heart disorder claim is also being remanded. The rating for lumbar strain with scoliosis remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a special home adaptation grant, and thus denied his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral arm, shoulder, hip, knee, neck, and sleep apnea, are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his right shoulder injury was denied, and the claim for TDIU due to service-connected residuals of right shoulder injury was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability evaluation for his left shoulder condition prior to December 18, 2018 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted due to his inability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to outstanding treatment records and additional evidence added since the last supplemental statement of the case. The Veteran was given an opportunity to respond, but did not do so.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding a right-shoulder condition that allegedly worsened due to an incident in August 2012. The claim is being considered under secondary service connection.