Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder, back, and hip conditions as they are related to his in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral elbow disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral wrist disorder, gastrointestinal disorder (IBS), right shoulder disorder, and bilateral knee disorder. The issues are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder as the pre-existing condition did not increase in severity during service, and there was no new evidence to reopen the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has also denied his claim for bilateral hearing loss and granted his claim for a head scar. The remaining issues, including arthritis of the right wrist, right shoulder rotator entrapment, bilateral foot pain, head trauma, diabetes mellitus, numbness in hands (secondary to diabetes), and hemorrhoids, have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral shoulder strain and right hip disability due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset of his disabilities.

The Veteran's right shoulder arthritis, status post open rotator cuff repair, is granted a 30 percent rating effective from July 10, 2019 (earlier than just as of February 6, 2020).,A higher rating for the left shoulder strain with arthritis is denied.

The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link between current disability and in-service events or conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right shoulder dislocations do not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent as there is no evidence of malunion with marked deformity, recurrent dislocation at scapulohumeral joint with frequent episodes and guarding of all movements, or fibrous union. The preponderance of the evidence does not support such findings.

The Veteran's appeals for various disabilities have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder recurrent dislocations and chronic cervical strain due to insufficient information regarding range of motion testing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including ED, headaches, a sleeping condition, acid reflux, hepatitis C, and a left shoulder injury. The decision is final as no substantive appeal was filed within the required time frame.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left hand disorders, left shoulder pain, and left hip degenerative joint disease as the evidence does not support a link to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her right shoulder condition and cervical spine strain with radiculopathy, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 31, 2015.

The Board denied compensation benefits for bilateral shoulder impingement syndrome, finding that the condition was not directly caused by participation in a vocational rehabilitation program.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a heart disability, thyroid disability, diabetes mellitus, bone loss, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder. The Veteran will be provided an SSOC if their benefits are not granted.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) was denied because his service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for SMC based on a single disability rated as total and an additional disability ratable at 60 percent or more.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric and physical conditions, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right and left shoulder, arm, hip, shin, ankle, and foot disabilities. The issues are related to whether these conditions arose during service or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's recurrent dislocation of the left shoulder with anterior instability is granted a 40 percent evaluation prior to January 14, 2020. From January 14, 2020 onward, his condition does not warrant an increased rating.