Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), to include on an extra-schedular basis, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since April 2015, and the effective date for his TDIU is set at June 7, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various arm, shoulder, hand, and wrist disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are proximately caused or aggravated by her service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran is also being asked to provide a new examination to determine the current severity of her left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder condition, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current diagnosis and an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided to the Veteran are inadequate and remands several issues for further development, including a new examination for hypothyroidism and cardiac arrhythmia. The claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, hypoglycemic seizures, lumbar strain, left knee disability, right knee disability, mitral valve prolapse, and sleep apnea are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the appeals for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left shoulder disability. The TDIU and SMC appeals are inextricably intertwined with the left shoulder appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability. The left shoulder disorder claim is denied.

The claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder acromioclavicular joint separation and degenerative arthritis, a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, and TDIU have been dismissed due to the absence of an adequate substantive appeal.,The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's right hip disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's low back disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's groin disability is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted due to conceded in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative arthritis with AC separation and calcific tendinopathy is granted as secondary to a deltoid injury during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and right shoulder disorders due to insufficient medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to the need for additional medical examinations and records, as well as clarification of certain events during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip, leg, shoulder, and heart disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran needs VA examinations to determine if he has these conditions and whether they are related to his military service.

Service connection for hepatitis C is granted.,Service connection for liver disease other than hepatitis C is denied.,Service connection for a left shoulder disorder is denied.,Service connection for a low back disorder is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder due to exposure to ionizing radiation and/or secondary to service-connected PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent, and the claim for secondary service connection for numbness in his left arm and hand was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder bursitis, left knee disability, and left shoulder bursitis, precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from November 6, 2006 to December 23, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for shin splints in both lower extremities, right shoulder post-operative scar (Diagnostic Code 7802), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been denied. The Veteran also has had his initial disability ratings for a right shoulder post-operative scar (Diagnostic Codes 7802 and 7804), left fifth finger fracture, and right elbow strain denied.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a cervical spine strain was granted.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the claims of service connection for various conditions, including adult onset scoliosis, myofascial pain syndrome, syncopal syndrome episode, right wrist carpal tunnel, a chronic shoulder condition, cervical spondylosis, an acquired psychiatric disability, and tibialis tendonitis (left ankle).

The Veteran's tinea versicolor and atopic dermatitis skin condition are rated as 10 percent disabling.,Service connection for left shoulder strain is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions did not have their onset during active service or within a year of separation, and thus denied service connection for all of his knee, ankle, foot, hip, shoulder, and cervical spine disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a left shoulder disability and service connection for a low back disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.