Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further examination. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is being reviewed again.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder osteoarthritis, finding that it began during his active duty and is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disorder, bilateral shoulder bursitis, and hemorrhoids due to incomplete examination reports and missing VA treatment records. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical evidence and complete examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory disability and musculoskeletal disabilities. The claims will be reconsidered on their merits, with a focus on whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for reopening of previous final denials of service connection for various conditions, including endometriosis, hysterectomy, elbow and hip conditions, lupus, skin condition, wrist conditions, hair loss, joint pain, shoulder condition, neurological disorder, vision condition, upper respiratory condition, memory loss, and fatigue. The Board also remanded the issue of an earlier effective date for service connection for diarrhea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The right ankle condition claim is reopened, but further examination is needed to determine its etiology.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations and missing private treatment records. The Veteran's left shoulder disorder and dental disorder are still under review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis all over the body (to include hands and shoulders) as there was no evidence of a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning in a previous VA opinion regarding whether the service-connected left shoulder disability aggravated the right shoulder disability. The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection is being sent back for further clarification.

The Veteran was granted a 30% rating for his right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis from June 18, 2015 to August 31, 2015.,After December 1, 2015, the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a higher rating was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as low back disability, need further examination and opinion due to inadequate previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected disabilities, which have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate medical evidence in the record, specifically regarding the frequency and severity of flare-ups. The Board requires a new examination to provide this information.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions, including headaches, TBI, GI disability, back disability, and left shoulder disability. The Board will also review the claims file to ensure that all necessary actions have been taken.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability was denied as the evidence did not support an increase in disability beyond what is already reflected by the current 30 percent rating.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including AC joint separation and impingement syndrome with DJD, is rated at 40 percent. A separate rating of 30 percent for the service-connected nerve impairment is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, low back disability, left leg stress fracture, right leg stress fracture, left foot stress fracture, and right foot stress fracture. The reasons given were that there was no current evidence of these conditions.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as remanded by the July 2018 decision.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by impingement syndrome with osteoarthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side, which would warrant a higher rating.