Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and updated treatment records.,The Board is also remanding several other issues, including an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, increased ratings for left ankle status post-sprain with instability and shin splints, right knee medial collateral ligament/meniscal tear with grinding/popping, and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen claims of service connection for cervical spine disability, thoracic spine disability, and right shoulder disability. The new evidence submitted includes diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period from August 15, 2013 to March 31, 2017 is granted due to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral knee and shoulder conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder condition, neck condition, and residuals of facial trauma as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to any in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand requests. The cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities are being reviewed again as they may be related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left shoulder, right wrist, lower back, and bilateral knee conditions due to incomplete medical records and inadequate examination reports. The AOJ is instructed to obtain relevant VA and private medical records and schedule the Veteran for an adequate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain, left shoulder strain, and right shoulder strain as these conditions are found to have originated during active duty.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right shoulder condition is denied.,The Veteran's increased rating claims for left shoulder arthritis with strain and right hip strain are both remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for his service-connected left shoulder strain, right knee sprain, and left ankle sprain are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports. The VA examinations did not include estimates of the functional impact of flare-ups.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that his pre-existing condition clearly and unmistakably existed prior to enlistment and was not aggravated beyond its natural progression during service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for peptic ulcer disease, right shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's low back, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities are related to his service-connected right thigh shell fragment wound residuals.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from January 1, 2011 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an upper right extremity disability due to a lack of proper examination and consideration of his lay statements regarding the incident in August 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further examination or medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and restoration of a rating are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and the submission of outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has vacated the portion of its April 2020 decision that denied service connection for heart palpitations due to failure to consider a theory that the condition is related to GERD and/or Barrett's esophagus. The claims for left shoulder, right shoulder, lumbar spine, and gastrointestinal reflux disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed all appeals related to service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, shoulder impingement syndrome, muscle pain, joint pain, respiratory issues, and headaches. The Veteran withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain outstanding records of VA and VA-authorized treatment, including scanned/VistA imaging records. The right knee increased evaluation claims are also remanded for an adequate medical examination.