Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions. The specific issues include diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis of the sacroiliac joint, diverticulitis, rheumatoid arthritis, storage mite syndrome, hypertension, and bilateral shoulder strain.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for neck, low back, and left shoulder conditions due to inadequate opinions in the March 2020 VA examination report. The Veteran's statements about his injuries will be considered.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and higher initial ratings in a Statement of the Case, which led to dismissal of all pending issues.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome and dislocation, finding that the Veteran's current condition is etiologically related to his in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examination and missing medical records. The Veteran's right shoulder disability will need further evaluation by a VA physician.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to uncertainty regarding the nature of her claims and potential eligibility for accrued benefits. The AOJ needs to clarify whether she is seeking substitution or accrued benefits, and then proceed with adjudication.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left shoulder disability is aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine disability, right leg condition, and left shoulder disability have been granted service connection. The effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral pes planus is set at February 10, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right shoulder disability has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the current right shoulder disability to service, including a 1968 injury. The Veteran's symptoms were not continuous or recurrent in service and arthritis did not manifest within one year of separation.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for degenerative changes of the left shoulder and left knee status post ACL reconstruction have been denied, with the claims being remanded for further development.,Higher ratings are not currently warranted for these conditions based on current evidence.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent for limited extension and a separate rating of 20 percent for meniscal disability. The right shoulder disability was granted a 40 percent rating from June 19, 2019 onwards.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is granted, as the evidence shows he requires regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 50 percent rating for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis with heel spurs from February 22, 2018 is granted, as the reduction was improper based on the evidence showing no actual improvement in his disability.,The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation for loss of use of the right hand is remanded due to a potential misinterpretation of the regulations.

The Veteran's headaches, neck condition, left shoulder injury, and right shoulder injury are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent prior to September 30, 2014. A separate rating for his neurological disability was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder disability, cervical spine DJD, cervical radiculopathy, and diabetes mellitus type II are being returned to the AOJ for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder DJD due to new and material evidence submitted since the June 2009 rating decision. However, the claim is still pending as it was remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability was denied as the evidence did not show that his range of motion had been limited to midway between the side and shoulder level, which would warrant a 30% rating under DC 5201. The current 20% rating is maintained.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, persistent depressive disorder with persistent major depressive episode and anxious distress, is granted. Service connection for a left hip condition, lumbar spine condition, TDIU, and dental condition (deterioration of teeth) are denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's heart disability or left shoulder disability, as both conditions are considered direct and not secondary to any service-connected condition.