Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's stroke and related conditions were not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault.,VA did not find that the Veteran’s stroke was due to an unforeseen event.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, including arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis and in-service injury are at least in equipoise.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder conditions due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the etiology of his injuries.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations, as well as obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The Veteran is also being asked to provide private medical records from Cleveland Clinic.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, and no service connection decisions were made.

The Board has remanded the claims for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, bilateral ankle, right shoulder joint, and bilateral foot joint disabilities. The appeals are currently pending.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder strain with degenerative joint disease as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to an in-service injury.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities due to a lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has restored the 40 percent rating for right shoulder degenerative joint disease and remanded the TDIU claim from May 17, 2013 to September 25, 2019.

A rating of 20 percent for a right ankle disability is granted, and service connection for bradycardia is granted. Service connection for a left shoulder disability as secondary to a right shoulder disability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder tendinitis and remanded the TDIU claim. The decision on service connection is in favor of the Veteran, as his right shoulder disorder is found to be related to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and osteoarthritis (including of the bilateral hands, right knee, right hip, left shoulder, and neck), all claimed as secondary to service-connected cognitive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bronchitis, degenerative joint disease (DJD), and diabetes-related neuropathy, were denied. The Board found no current disability as claimed in any of these cases.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history, warranting a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 50 percent prior to August 27, 2019. For the entire period on appeal, a rating in excess of 50 percent for his left shoulder disability is denied.

The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's spine, shoulder, and knee conditions due to incomplete development of his treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left leg varicose veins has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The other issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete VA examinations. The Veteran's left shoulder and knee disabilities are still under review.

The Veteran's claim for a sleep disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or functional impairment.,An increased 20 percent rating, but no higher, has been granted for the right shoulder/collarbone disability from November 12, 2010 to October 15, 2018. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating is denied after that date.,A 10 percent rating, but no higher, has been granted for the left thumb fracture from November 3, 2011 to October 15, 2018. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating is denied after that date.,The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for the right ankle is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for the left knee is denied.,An increased 20 percent rating, but no higher, has been granted for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine from March 4, 2011 to October 15, 2018. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating is denied after that date.,The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for sciatic radiculopathy in the right lower extremity is denied.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings.,An effective date prior to June 9, 2008, was denied for the award of service connection for erectile dysfunction.