Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for neck, bilateral wrist, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, bilateral foot, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral elbow disabilities due to insufficient evidence.,No new or material evidence was provided to reopen any of these service connection claims.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability is found to cause chronic sleep impairment, and a 10 percent rating is granted for the prior period. For the period after November 30, 2017, a higher rating of at least 20 percent is denied.

The Veteran's thalassemia trait, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are all service-connected. However, a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied for each condition except tinea versicolor which receives a 10% rating.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 40 percent from February 1, 2013. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. Bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and left shoulder disorder are also presumed to be related to his service-connected diabetes.,Service connection for Merkel cell carcinoma and kidney disorder secondary to type II diabetes mellitus remains pending as the Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence or information for a VA examination.

The Board has granted a TDIU for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and posttraumatic stress disorder. The evaluation for migraine headaches remains at 50 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, right knee, and left ear hearing loss disabilities, as well as hypertension. The decision also granted service connection for right ear hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service. The issues of service connection have been remanded without a determination on the merits.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder is related to his service, but needs further evidence due to a lack of medical records.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection of right shoulder disability is granted. The claim for service connection of right knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disability, toenail disability (left great toe), and shoulder disabilities (left and right) have been granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability. The claim for left ankle disability has been remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The claims for sinusitis and right wrist ganglion cyst removal are also remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of head injury and left shoulder disability, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.,Service connection for neck disability is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The claims for right shoulder disability, bilateral foot disability (claimed as a bilateral foot infection), fibromyalgia, respiratory disability, and gastritis with hiatal hernia are all remanded due to insufficient evidence on their merits.

The Board has decided that there may be relevant treatment records not yet in the VA's possession, and thus remands for obtaining these records.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of a right shoulder condition as it has been granted and rendered moot. The issue of service connection for migraines/chronic headaches is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination for his left shoulder disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of limitation in range of motion.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left shoulder disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent each, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, and left hip disabilities. The claims for left wrist and left foot disabilities are remanded.