Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and TDIU due to his service-connected lumbar spine and right shoulder disabilities. The VA is instructed to obtain updated treatment records, provide another opportunity for the Veteran to submit evidence, conduct examinations, and adjudicate the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his cervical, shoulder, back, knee, and extremity disabilities. The claims are being returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to outstanding private and VA treatment records, incomplete employment information, and the need for examinations regarding his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities and upper extremity neuropathies.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations. The issues include knee, cervical spine, right shoulder, left wrist, eye socket injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for neck disability, right shoulder and arm disabilities, and left shoulder and arm disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability and hypertension, as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder. The remand is due to inadequate medical opinions in both cases.

The Veteran's headaches associated with right shoulder impingement have been granted a 50% evaluation effective June 23, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and service connection for a left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's hypertension, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy associated with DDD of the lumbar spine, and bilateral knee arthritis have been granted service connection. Service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability and bilateral ankle disability has not been established.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating, but no higher. Service connection for right shoulder disability, lumbosacral spine disability, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are remanded.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, a mental disorder, and various musculoskeletal conditions. However, these claims have been denied as there is no evidence to support the presence or causation of any of these conditions during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals from bilateral upper extremity cold injury is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran sustained a cold weather injury to his upper extremities during active duty and now experiences residuals of this injury. The Board affirms the grant of service connection for these residuals, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's hand and wrist conditions, as well as his left shoulder and elbow disabilities. The issues include service connection for de Quervain’s tenosynovitis and flexor carpi ulnari tendinopathy of both hands and wrists, and an initial rating for acromioclavicular arthritis and lateral epicondylitis of the left elbow. Additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of any increased disability ratings.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, headaches, tinnitus, and psychiatric disorder. Service connection is granted for tinnitus but other claims are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities of the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, and knees, finding that there was no evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and PTSD, as well as service connection for bilateral pes planus, were dismissed. The Board also remanded several other issues including hearing loss, sleep disorder, head condition, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, chronic low back condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left shoulder degenerative joint disease and capsulitis are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder/arm disability and denied entitlement to an increased rating for the Veteran's total left knee replacement. The Veteran's left shoulder/arm disability was found not related to active duty service, while his total left knee replacement was rated at 30% from March 1, 2016.