Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened, and the case is being remanded due to additional development needed.

Service connection is granted for left knee chondromalacia, back arthritis, chronic residuals of left shoulder, and depressive disorder. Service connection is remanded for peripheral neuropathy in bilateral lower extremities and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for a left arm disability, including shoulder and elbow disabilities. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is already service-connected. The Board granted SMC based on need for aid and attendance and/or housebound status due to the Veteran's service-connected conditions. TDIU was granted effective November 2, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding his claimed disabilities. The Veteran is seeking service connection for right shoulder, bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and a right wrist disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for further examinations and opinions regarding his gastrointestinal disorder, knee disabilities, and PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), and various musculoskeletal conditions. The effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was set at September 12, 2017. All other issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's initial request for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability prior to March 18, 2010 was denied. A 30 percent rating is granted since March 19, 2010, and the issue of TDIU from June 20, 2009, to August 21, 2014, is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder are denied. The VA examinations did not provide sufficient information to determine if the current disorders were caused or worsened by service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right rotator cuff injury, limitation of motion of the right knee, and left ankle sprain are all granted service connection. The psychiatric disorder is denied service connection, but the claim for a left shoulder condition is not addressed as it lacks current disability evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating for various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an undiagnosed illness manifested by joint pain in the left ankle is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran exhibited objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability during active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, meeting the requirements for service connection under § 3.317.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, left shoulder degenerative joint disease with a history of rotator cuff repair, right shoulder degenerative joint disease with a history of rotator cuff repair, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease status post laminectomy, right knee degenerative joint disease and meniscus tear, status post repair, and hypertension. The remand is due to the need for additional development regarding these issues.,The Veteran's service connection claims have been previously addressed by the Board in February 2016 and February 2018, with further remands made in those decisions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, bilateral knee, and shoulder conditions as well as right-side pain due to lack of compliance with previous remand instructions. The Veteran's current conditions are being reviewed for their relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been dismissed as the RO issued a Statement of the Case continuing the current evaluations and denying the claims.,The Veteran did not file a substantive appeal, thus the Board lacks jurisdiction to review these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand joint pain, stiffness and swelling, left elbow degenerative arthritis, right elbow joint pain, stiffness and swelling, right shoulder joint pain, stiffness, swelling and loss of motion and function, left upper extremity numbness, right upper extremity numbness, nausea and vomiting, and erectile dysfunction have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, including as secondary to service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI), neck pain, stiffness and swelling, including as secondary to service-connected TBI, left knee joint pain, including as secondary to service-connected right knee and left foot disabilities, Athlete's foot, right foot, and TMJD, including as secondary to service-connected TBI have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, but denied the claims for right knee and left knee disabilities. Service connection for back disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder condition was aggravated by service. The Veteran is presumed to have entered service in sound condition, but his pre-existing right shoulder dislocation condition must be determined as not having been clearly and unmistakably aggravated during service.

The Veteran's applications to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted. The cases are now REMANDED for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including service connection for various conditions and seeking initial ratings in excess of the current assigned ratings. The Board has remanded these matters to obtain additional examinations and evidence.,The Veteran is seeking an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability, hearing loss, psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and depression), and lumbar disability.

The Board has denied a higher initial disability rating for left shoulder replacement and remanded the issue of service connection for cause of death. The Veteran's lung cancer with brain metastasis is being requested to be reviewed by an appropriate physician to determine if it was related to his active duty service, including presumed in-service exposure to asbestos on the USS Midway.