Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, right shoulder, right knee, right foot, and right hip disabilities due to missing service treatment records. The Veteran should be afforded VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder disability and increased ratings for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to deficiencies in compliance with previous remand directives.

The claim for service connection for COPD is reopened and granted. The appeal is also granted to the extent of remanding issues related to bilateral knee disorders, left shoulder disorder, and cervical spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder, right eye, and skin disorders (claimed as abnormal growth) due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions had their onset during or were related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability, right hip arthritis, and right knee arthritis did not have their onset during active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability due to the Veteran's competent lay reports of symptoms since discharge, and the lack of corroborating medical evidence did not preclude granting presumptive service connection under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since October 6, 2016. The appeal is remanded for further development including additional VA examinations to assess the current severity of his left shoulder and back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder and hip disorders due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's current diagnoses, including her testimony about in-service injuries, need to be addressed by a qualified examiner.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder and left knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome, finding that it is not secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder tendonitis and bursitis with DJD. The claim for a TDIU was also denied as there were no findings indicating the Veteran could not secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including a new VA examination of the Veteran's left shoulder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gouty arthritis was denied as the condition clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service. The Board found that his pre-existing gout conditions were not aggravated by active duty service. His claim for a higher disability rating for left knee surgery is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted service connection due to the presumption of aggravation. The right shoulder, cervical spine, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities were denied as not related to military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder, elbow, and knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and right shoulder arthritis with chronic tear of the supraspinatus muscle, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral flat feet, right shoulder condition, and gastrointestinal condition remain unresolved due to need for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes. The left shoulder, right wrist, lumbar spine, and right hand disabilities are remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The gastrointestinal disability is also remanded as it may be related to medication prescribed for other service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient efforts by the AOJ in obtaining the Veteran's service records. Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the issues related to psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis remain pending as they were not discussed or addressed in the July 2013 VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized arthralgias in shoulders, elbows, knees, hands, thumbs, and lumbar spine have been rated at 40 percent since July 1981. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence does not support a finding of more than 40 percent disability.