Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder, as well as the TDIU claim due to outstanding records needing to be obtained and associated with the claims file. The Veteran's reports of symptomatology need to be considered during these examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and development, including a VA examination for the Veteran's left shoulder disability and skin condition. The effective date of service connection for the left shoulder disability is currently April 30, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including left shoulder, neck, back, hip, foot, knee, esophageal (GERD), ankle, psychiatric (PTSD), and heart disorders. The Board found that these conditions were not related to active duty service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right shoulder disorder, claimed as fracture of the right clavicle, is being remanded due to an inaccurate assessment in his previous VA examination. A new examination is needed to determine if his current right shoulder disorder is related to service.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the complexity of his conditions and the need to consider all relevant evidence, including statements from those who served with him.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and joint pain affecting the right shoulder, bilateral elbows, bilateral wrists, and bilateral ankles. The Veteran is asked to provide additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of sinusitis, right shoulder condition, alopecia, and sleep disorder to include sleep apnea have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the appellant during his April 2019 hearing. The remaining claims are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder arthritis and tension headaches, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not originate in or were not caused by his military service.,No evidence was provided to support a direct link between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further review due to insufficient medical evidence and procedural errors.

The Veteran's skin condition, diagnosed as moles, is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a connection between the condition and his military service.,Service connection for left shoulder disability (osteoarthritis and torn rotator cuff) is denied because there is no evidence of arthritis during active duty or within one year after separation from active duty. The Veteran's current diagnosis occurred over ten years post-service.,Service connection for right shoulder disability (osteoarthritis and torn rotator cuff) is denied due to lack of evidence showing a connection between the condition and his military service. The Veteran's current diagnosis also occurred over ten years post-service.,Service connection for left knee disability (osteoarthritis) is denied because there is no evidence of arthritis during active duty or within one year after separation from active duty. The Veteran's current diagnosis occurred over ten years post-service.,Service connection for right knee disability (osteoarthritis) is denied as the first record of arthritis was over ten years after the Veteran's last period of active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than March 10, 2017 for the increased rating of 30 percent for right shoulder impingement syndrome and remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board has dismissed all pending claims due to the death of both the Veteran and his surviving spouse.

The Veteran was gainfully employed during the period prior to January 4, 2012. Therefore, a TDIU for this period is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder scarring and has remanded the issue of service connection for cubital tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity as secondary to postoperative residuals of a total right shoulder arthroplasty.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The right ankle disability is remanded.,Service connection was not granted for the left shoulder and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen claims for service connection of left knee, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities was granted. The appeals for bilateral hip disabilities are also remanded.

The Veteran's acid reflux is currently rated at 30 percent from December 23, 2009. The Board finds that the symptoms of persistent recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by substernal, arm, and shoulder pain, warrant a 30 percent rating.

The Board has decided that the claims for service connection are remanded due to new evidence being added to the file, and the Veteran wants the RO to review this evidence first.