Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the bilateral hips, knees, left shoulder, and thoracolumbar spine as there was no evidence showing a nexus to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various skin and eye disabilities, including those claimed as due to Agent Orange exposure. The evidence did not support a finding of direct or presumptive service connection.

Service connection for PTSD and a skin disability has been granted. Service connection for low back, right shoulder, left shoulder, and joint pain disabilities have not been established.,The Veteran's service connection claims were denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and lumbosacral strain have prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that the criteria for an award of a TDIU are met, but has also remanded his claims for right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, and sleep disorder to include sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was granted, with the Board finding that his symptoms are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability is denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to service.,Her right wrist tendonitis has been rated at its maximum schedular rating (10%) and further evaluation is needed due to worsening symptoms.,The Veteran’s right hand weakness, which she claims is secondary to her right wrist tendonitis, was not addressed in the most recent VA examination. Further evaluation is required to determine if it should be service-connected.,Her low back disability has been rated at 40% and a higher rating is sought due to worsening symptoms since the last VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective August 16, 2017. He also received a TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of SLE, increased rating for left shoulder disability, and compensable rating for status/Post laparoscopic cholecystectomy with residual scars were denied. The effective date issue was not addressed as it is a separate claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mid-back fibromyositis, right and left shoulder strain, and hepatitis C, do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. The Board denied the TDIU claim as there is no evidence showing that his service-connected conditions fully preclude all forms of employment.

Service connection is granted for a cervical spine disability, diagnosed as spondylosis, stenosis, and degenerative arthritis. Service connection is also granted for myoclonus of the neck and shoulders secondary to the service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his left shoulder and right knee disabilities, as well as for a determination on increased SMC. The claims for increased ratings remain on appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, insomnia, bilateral flatfeet, and hydrocele as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of direct service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as there was no in-service diagnosis or event linked to his current condition. For PTSD, the Board noted that while the Veteran had occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as chronic mood disturbances and sleep impairment, these were not sufficient to meet the criteria for a 70% rating under DC 9411.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back, neck, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and hypertension due to new evidence received since the last examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been withdrawn and are dismissed. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened, but not granted.

The Board denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and a right shoulder disability, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's left shoulder tendonitis and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have been rated as 20 percent and 10 percent disabling, respectively, since September 13, 2011. The appeals for higher ratings are denied.,Higher ratings were not granted for the Veteran's left shoulder tendonitis or left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if any of the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and hip disorders are denied. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current left shoulder or left hip disability, as all reported symptoms are attributed to already service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's TBI, cognitive disorder, nerve, and knee disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for additional private treatment records. The Veteran's left shoulder disorder is being reviewed again by a VA clinician.