Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features, left knee arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, lumbar spine strain, cervical spine strain, hiatal hernia, left elbow dislocation, hypertension, hemorrhoids, post laceration of the right thigh with residual scar, and right shoulder surgical scar associated with right shoulder arthritis. As a result, special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology of his claimed disabilities, particularly those related to his military service.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar strain conditions are each rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that these evaluations do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.,For her knee, ankle, shoulder, hip, and urinary tract infection conditions, the Veteran's current evaluations remain unchanged as they are all rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of injury to the left arm and left shoulder disorder, finding no current disability or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various disabilities, including IBS, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and GERD. The main reasons are the need for additional examinations to determine etiology and severity of these conditions, as well as whether they are aggravated by other service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for removal of ribs with shortness of breath and left shoulder pain, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service or service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that there were errors in the duty to assist and remands the cases for further development.

Service connection is granted for PTSD. Service connection is denied for cervical spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability. The claims for service connection of the bilateral shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for subscapular bursitis of the left shoulder and remanded the claim for service connection of erectile dysfunction. The decision is pending further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability, an acquired psychiatric disability, and a heart disorder due to outstanding development being required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected cervical spine, right shoulder tendonitis, and left shoulder tendonitis are being remanded due to inadequate medical examinations in the previous decision. The Board requires new VA examinations to assess the severity of the disabilities during flare-ups and following repetitive use.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, neck disability, headaches, shrapnel wound to the face, tailbone condition, neurological impairment of upper and lower extremities, left shoulder disability, and dental disability due to service connection. The reasons include lack of documented treatment in some cases, need for new examinations, and potential service connection based on a motor vehicle accident.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, right shoulder, neck, and bilateral hip disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The cases are now pending for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened and granted. The claims for right shoulder, headache disorder, hypertension, and bicipital tendonitis and degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete examinations and the need for additional medical records. The issues of service connection are being reviewed, as well as initial disability ratings.

The Veteran withdrew all of his claims, including those related to service connection for various disabilities and initial ratings.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, and he is granted a TDIU effective December 12, 2016. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder with anxiety) has been granted. The Veteran was diagnosed with this condition during service and linked it to his combat exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee, left knee, left shoulder, right shoulder, right ankle, and left ankle conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, pes planus (claimed as flat feet), Morton's Neuroma, and plantar fasciitis.