Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetes and diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been dismissed.,New evidence has reopened the claim of service connection for a right shoulder disorder, which is now remanded for further review.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent from December 3, 2013 to May 26, 2015 and prospectively from September 1, 2015. The Veteran's left shoulder disability is secondary to her right shoulder disability and service connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a lack of current diagnoses and insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran is entitled to VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's in-service injuries and symptoms are related to his current condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of repair rotator cuff tear of right shoulder is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to a higher rating for lumbosacral and thoracic degenerative joint disease, degenerative disc disease, and spondylolisthesis, and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder and left elbow conditions due to inadequate medical opinions provided in previous examinations.

The Veteran's initial increased rating claims for right shoulder, left foot hammer toes, and right foot hammer toes were denied. The Board also found that the Veteran’s service connection claims for PTSD, a back disability, cause of death, and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are remanded.,The Veteran's initial increased rating claim for his right shoulder was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the September 2005 rating decision for the period from September 1, 1991 to May 20, 2005. The Veteran is now entitled to a 10 percent rating for his left shoulder disability from May 20, 2005 to June 12, 2012.

The Veteran seeks an effective date prior to April 20, 2018 for the award of a 20 percent disability rating for his service-connected left and right shoulder disabilities. The RO found that no earlier effective date is warranted as the increase in disability did not occur within one year of the claim.,The Veteran also seeks an increased disability rating for his left and right shoulder disabilities, which are currently rated at 20 percent each. The Board finds that a new VA examination is necessary to determine the current severity of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations are being remanded due to the need for further development and evaluation of his shoulder, knee, and eczema disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left hip disorders that are aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee and right shoulder conditions. The claim for GERD secondary to PTSD is remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right hip, left hip, right shoulder, and left shoulder disorders due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound due to a lack of evidence showing she is in need of regular aid and assistance or permanently housebound.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to verify the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including low back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, lung disability, and left eye disability. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability was reopened and granted. The effective date of the grant is set at May 24, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The claim to reopen the left shoulder disability was denied as new and material evidence was not received. Increased rating claims for hemochromatosis and bilateral pavingstone degeneration were also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension. The cases of low back disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right shoulder and low back disabilities due to insufficient examination findings. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA examination to determine if he currently has these conditions and whether they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed due to his death.