Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his left shoulder and left ankle conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right shoulder condition related to his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.,For the left knee and right knee conditions, the Board found no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and thus denied these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date prior to August 7, 2014 for the grant of service connection for his right shoulder disability. The earliest evidence of a nexus between the diagnosed right shoulder disorder and the Veteran’s active duty service was shown in a May 14, 2015 VA examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for a bilateral eye disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), speech disorder, and right leg disorder. The effective dates are not specified in this decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder condition, fracture of the right-hand pinky, lower back condition, right knee condition, and right ankle condition. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on in-service injuries.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, anxiety (acquired psychiatric disorder), right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, tinnitus, and headache disorder have all been denied. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to active duty service.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, anxiety (acquired psychiatric disorder), right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, tinnitus, and headache disorder are all denied. The evidence does not show current disabilities or a link to active duty service.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, left knee disability, right foot gout, and right shoulder disability has been granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disabilities, including low back strain, bilateral patellar tendonitis, bilateral trapezius strains (claimed as shoulder disorders), bilateral hip disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical records and arrange for a comprehensive orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to February 3, 2017 did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development of records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim to service connection for a right shoulder disability was granted.,Service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left upper extremity nerve disability were denied.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbosacral spine disability due to new evidence showing these disabilities may be related to active service. The claims are granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder is granted, and the case is remanded for further action on his hearing loss disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and lack of updated medical records, requiring a new evaluation of the Veteran's right shoulder condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical degenerative disc disease, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and right shoulder strain was dismissed.,Effective dates prior to February 6, 2014 were denied for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability caused or aggravated his claimed left knee, hip, and shoulder disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his lower leg disabilities, right ear hearing loss, and left shoulder disability due to inadequate VA examinations and missing records. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine if he has current diagnoses of these conditions and whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability and left shoulder condition were denied as the current ratings do not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.,Service connection for sleep apnea was denied because there is no evidence of its onset in service or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability is granted, and a compensable rating for the surgical scar is also granted. The issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities remains pending.