Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board dismissed all appeals as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the death of the Appellant, as appellants' claims do not survive their death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records review.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, knee, and shoulder disabilities due to incomplete records and a need to obtain additional evidence.

The Veteran's right shoulder, lumbar and thoracic spine, left ankle, OSA, and hypertension conditions were denied as service connection due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Service connection was remanded for TBI, GERD, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is now rated at 30 percent effective May 17, 2019. The previous rating of 20 percent has been increased to reflect the current level of impairment.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted service connection. Service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression) are remanded due to lack of evidence supporting the claims. Increased ratings for cervical, lumbar spine, left and right knee disabilities, and bilateral plantar fasciitis are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, left shoulder disability, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left leg radiculopathy, and left shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis and degenerative joint disease due to inadequate examinations in determining their severity.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder condition, finding that the current conditions are not related to service and concluding that there is no evidence of a nexus between the in-service complaints and the present disabilities.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, and his DJD in the left knee is rated at 10 percent. The reduction of rating for left knee instability was upheld.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues except left upper extremity neurological disability and left elbow scar have been withdrawn. The remaining issues are being remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder condition, bilateral knee condition, and gastric reflux due to VA not having provided a VA examination or obtained relevant private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression was reopened, but the claim remains denied as there is no credible supporting evidence that an in-service stressor occurred.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and treatment records.

The Veteran's hearing loss and left shoulder scar disabilities have worsened since the last examinations, necessitating further evaluations to determine appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment from October 18, 2013. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the service connection claims and the reopening of a pneumonia claim before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to failure of the Veteran to appear at scheduled VA examinations. The examinations will be rescheduled, and additional records from private sources may need to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received. The Veteran's cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities are being reviewed again, with an addendum opinion required regarding whether these conditions are aggravated by his service-connected TBI.