Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating for right shoulder surgery is denied because she was not service-connected for the condition at the time of her January 2017 surgery.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left shoulder rotator cuff tear status post replacement has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and potential issues with preexisting conditions. The Veteran's right shoulder disability needs further examination and opinion.

Service connection is denied for a left shoulder disorder and right arm disorder.,Service connection is denied for a right arm disorder. The skin disorder claim has been remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for a medical opinion regarding its relationship to service.,The Veteran's skin disorder, claimed as due to herbicide exposure, is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his left knee, left shoulder, and prostate cancer disabilities due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and requests for additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal as to service connection for a left shoulder disorder is dismissed. The Board has remanded the remaining issues of service connection and rating for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a low back disability is denied as the weight of evidence does not support that VA treatment caused or worsened his condition.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a right shoulder disability is also denied because there is no credible evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cysts on the back, right shoulder condition, right knee condition, and right ankle condition are granted with initial 10% evaluations. The low back condition, GERD, and conditions of the right shoulder and right knee require further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in a previous medical opinion, and an addendum opinion is needed from the same VA examiner.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's prostate cancer rating from 100% to 0% was proper. The issues of entitlement to a higher rating for residuals of prostate cancer and service connection for right shoulder disability are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral hip disabilities. The AOJ will also obtain all outstanding records from SSA.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder dislocation, spondylosis of the lumbar spine with facet degenerative joint disease (claimed as bulging disc lower back), and glaucoma. The Veteran's claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and right arm disability have been granted.,An effective date earlier than January 28, 2016, has not been established for the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 30, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left leg, right leg, right shoulder, and back disabilities due to incomplete STRs and a lack of documentation regarding the claimed motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated as a post rotator cuff tear with degenerative arthritis, and the Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated as a left shoulder strain, and the Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various rheumatoid arthritis conditions of the shoulders, hands, wrists, feet, and knees are being remanded due to inadequate examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU are being remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder tendonitis and left shoulder strain have been rated at 10 percent prior to August 14, 2019, and 20 percent from that date. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for these conditions.,The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder tendonitis with degenerative arthritis has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to August 14, 2019, or 20 percent from that date.