Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, as well as other conditions. The Veteran's current right and left shoulder osteoarthritis were not found to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for athlete’s foot, foot pain, cervical and thoracic spine disability, joint pain, muscle pain, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right leg disability, and left leg disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran has not been formally diagnosed with any medical conditions relating to these claims. However, he has reported pain in various areas of his body during service and since then.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The left shoulder disability (prior to total replacement) is also rated at 20 percent. Both disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran's disabilities are found to have started during his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including cold injury residuals and back disability. The decision is based on the need for additional development of records and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 1, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's gout has been rated at 60 percent since the grant of service connection, effective prior to October 1, 2019. From October 1, 2019 onwards, a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he did not complete the necessary VA Form 21-8940 and there was insufficient evidence of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left shoulder DJD were denied. The rating for the right shoulder DJD was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5201.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left shoulder DJD, which had been rated under DC 5010-5201 and later reassigned to DC 5051, was also denied. The rating of 30 percent under DC 5051 was maintained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine, shoulder, and hip conditions due to inadequate VA examinations in prior decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for joint pain, wrist pain, sleep disturbance, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to an undiagnosed illness. The appeal is pending additional development.

The Veteran's claims for sebaceous cyst, squamous cell skin cancer, and actinic keratosis have been dismissed as withdrawn.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease has been remanded. The other issues remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his claims are still pending as further development is needed before a decision can be made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability was reopened and granted. The claim for service connection for a left knee disability was denied.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed and the Veteran's claims are being remanded for further examination and review.

The Board denied service connection for cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, finding that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death or disability rating was not totally disabling for at least ten years immediately preceding his death.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates on various service connection claims have been withdrawn.,All issues of increased ratings and TDIU have also been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting information regarding her period of active duty and reserve status. The veteran is required to provide additional evidence, including personnel records from Camp Lincoln, to verify her service during the specified time frame.

A 30 percent rating is granted for the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability from October 28, 2016. The Veteran's left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy remains under review and will be remanded.