Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for right shoulder strain and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding flare-ups and employment history.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right shoulder disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board dismissed all issues of service connection due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various shoulder, knee, and ankle conditions due to insufficient medical opinions addressing his in-service parachute jumps. The claims are pending further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a right shoulder disability due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The Veteran should provide information about prior Workers' Compensation claims, submit release forms, and be asked to provide statements from service colleagues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period prior to July 22, 2011.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the appellant's request for withdrawal of all issues in the appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an upper back disorder and remanded the issues of service connection for right and left shoulder disorders due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including strain with bursitis and shoulder impingement syndrome and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and Grade 1 slap tear (dominant hand), has been rated at 30 percent since July 6, 2010.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for right knee and left shoulder disabilities. The issues of service connection for a left knee disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral foot disorder, and hypertension are remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected depressive disorder and right knee disability. The Veteran's left shoulder surgical scar is granted a 10% evaluation from January 12, 2018 onward.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a previously denied service connection claim for a left shoulder condition was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the January 2020 remand order and thus, the claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain a new VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's secondary disabilities were aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's fracture of the L3 transverse process is rated at 20 percent. Service connection for other conditions, including a separate lumbosacral spine disability and peripheral vascular disabilities, are denied. Other service-connected issues remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for SMC due to loss of use of her right arm was granted. However, the claim for a higher disability rating for her service-connected right shoulder scars was denied.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, and right elbow strain due to insufficient reasoning in a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings regarding migraine headaches, cervical spine disorder, and right shoulder disorder has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment for the period from November 20, 2014 to September 24, 2015. The Board has granted TDIU based on this evidence.

The Veteran's left shoulder strain with degenerative joint disease is rated at 40 percent from August 12, 2013 onwards. Prior to that date, the rating was denied.,A compensable rating for a left shoulder scar is not granted.