Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple issues are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including treatment records and information regarding her reported stressors.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to incomplete medical records. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization forms for Brick Hospital, Ocean Medical Center, and Dr. Chulie.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of cervical, right shoulder, and left shoulder conditions for further examination and opinion regarding their relation to service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is granted service connection. The back, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete range of motion assessments in previous examinations, and a new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and other issues are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board has decided that an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected left shoulder disability is denied. The case is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination due to the inadequacy of the previous one.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and treatment records, requiring further evaluation of the Veteran's right shoulder disability and its relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder and back disabilities, finding that the Veteran had injuries during active duty which resulted in current disabilities.,Service connection was denied for TBI and migraine headaches as there is no evidence of a current disability related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for lumbosacral strain, and service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed right shoulder disability, as there was insufficient competent medical evidence at the time of the rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities of the back, right shoulder, right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has determined that new evidence received warrants readjudication of the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The appellant's right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, left hip, residuals of a head injury, psychiatric disability (PTSD), methylation process dysfunction, combat training fatigue, and aging disabilities are all denied as service connection is not warranted.,The Board has determined that the evidence does not support service connection for any of the claimed conditions. The appellant's claims have been remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of limitation of motion beyond the current assigned level.,PTSD was initially rated at 50 percent prior to November 26, 2019 and increased to 70 percent thereafter. The Veteran's claim is denied as his symptoms do not warrant an increase in ratings.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left and right shoulders, as well as a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability, were denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of degenerative arthritis in the left and right shoulders and insufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various lower extremity and back conditions due to inadequate examination findings, failure to consider all relevant medical history, and lack of VA treatment records postdating February 8, 2018.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all listed conditions, and the Board has dismissed these cases as a result.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and service connection for various upper extremity and spinal disorders were denied. The Board also found that the Veteran had not been provided with adequate examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his shoulder and spine conditions.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Diabetes mellitus, Type II with retinopathy does not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent due to the absence of episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalization.

The Board has determined that additional remands are necessary for the Veteran's lumbar strain, left hip injury, and right shoulder dislocation claims due to inadequate range of motion testing in prior VA examinations.