Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability and granted service connection based on direct evidence linking the current condition to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to December 20, 2016. Beginning December 20, 2016, the rating for PTSD is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, right ankle, and right shoulder disabilities due to concerns about the adequacy of previous medical opinions and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's right shoulder arthritis. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to determine if her condition is related to her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to her in-service injuries.,The Board also granted secondary service connection for migraines as they are found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and joint pain including hands, shoulders, knees, hips, and fingers due to presumed Gulf War exposures. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability and has remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to additional development being required.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder rotator cuff tear as secondary to the Veteran's right shoulder disability. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding cervical spine disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and/or fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and additional development is needed. The issues include neck, left knee, right shoulder, right knee, bilateral foot disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder and a sleep disorder.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from October 10, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities. Prior to this date, the evidence did not show he could secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, TBI, chronic fever, a mole under the left eye, and various dental conditions were denied as there was no current disability or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's request for self-employment assistance through Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) was granted. The decision found that the Veteran has a serious employment handicap due to his service-connected disabilities, which necessitated selection of self-employment as the only reasonably feasible vocational goal.

The Board has denied service connection for back, left knee, right knee, left shoulder, and right shoulder conditions as there is no evidence linking these disabilities to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and an addendum opinion regarding service connection for hypertension, as well as for clarification on the Veteran's claims for left shoulder disability and gynecological disability.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for a right shoulder disability and increased ratings for left hip bursitis, right hip bursitis, and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's current 10% rating for left hip bursitis is maintained.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder disorder, right knee strain, right knee Osgood-Schlatter disease, right hamstring disorder, left hamstring disorder, and low back disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not found.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has found that additional evidence is needed to determine if his low back and left shoulder disorders are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further review due to new evidence and examinations being added to the record.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various foot, ankle, spine, and shoulder conditions have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing conditions were aggravated by his military service or caused by other service-connected disabilities.