Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the Veteran's right shoulder condition and left knee condition.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and earlier effective dates, including for her heart condition, left shoulder conditions, elbow conditions, and limitation of motion in her elbows. The specific nature of these issues is not provided.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to outstanding VA treatment records and additional evidence from the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted service connection as it worsened during his military service. The right shoulder disability issue is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder, low back, and left knee disabilities. The claims for epididymitis and testicular pain, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, and gastrointestinal disability (to include irritable bowel syndrome) are remanded.

The Board has granted a combined 40 percent rating for the right knee disability, but denied an increased rating for the right shoulder disability. The case is remanded to obtain VA treatment records from before October 3, 2000.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to new evidence not considered in the previous rating decision. The Veteran's left shoulder strain and lumbar herniated disc with intervertebral disc disorder are currently rated at 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding the service connection claims for residuals of traumatic brain injury, migraines, and right shoulder muscle spasm with bursitis.,An addendum opinion is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or aggravated by a pre-existing condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and failure to consider all relevant evidence, including his Reserve service.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee disability, hallux valgus of the right big toe, GERD, respiratory disorder, chronic sleep disorder, and left shoulder disability due to a lack of service treatment records and inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's initial rating for a left shoulder disability is denied, but he was granted service connection and TDIU from September 23, 2015. The case is remanded to determine an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for right calcaneus fracture/sprain, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, and right shoulder degenerative joint disease. Service connection is also granted for degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease. The claim for a left knee condition remains pending.

The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date than July 1, 2009 for the award of a 30% evaluation for right foot injury with great toe fracture is dismissed.,The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date than May 7, 2012 for the grant of service connection for a right hip strain is dismissed.,The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date than March 12, 2010 for the award of service connection for low back disability with a 20% evaluation is dismissed.,The Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates prior to August 18, 2015 for impairment of right hip, limitation of flexion of right thigh (hip), left hip strain, and limitation of flexion of left thigh (hip) are all dismissed.,The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date than August 18, 2015 for a 20% evaluation for right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis status-post surgery is dismissed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right shoulder scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The issues of increased evaluations for his residuals, dislocated right shoulder and plantar warts, bilateral feet are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right shoulder numbness and burning, including as secondary to service-connected osteoarthritis and impingement syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his back disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,The Veteran is also seeking service connection for a generalized joint disability, including pain related to multiple joints.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased initial ratings for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral shoulders, and remanded his claims for additional development regarding cervical spine, knee, lumbar spine, and pes cavus disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for disability manifested by memory loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right and left lower extremities prior to February 8, 2017 are denied as the evidence does not support an increase in rating beyond 10 percent.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and etiological opinions.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with his service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, right foot arthritis, and right foot gout due to conflicting evidence and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to increased ratings for his right shoulder, knee, and hip disabilities. The heart disability issue is also addressed. The decision grants an initial rating of 10 percent for the right shoulder prior to November 6, 2018, but denies a higher rating thereafter. Separate initial ratings are granted for the right knee and right hip. Service connection for a heart disability is remanded.