Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional VA treatment records.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of various conditions, including neck, shoulder, and arm issues. The Veteran also had his appeal to increase PTSD ratings dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral shoulder, knee, right-hand, ankle, neck, and foot conditions. The remand requires a new VA examination to address the nature of these disabilities and their relationship to military service.

The Veteran's left shoulder dislocation is not productive of more than infrequent episodes and guarding of movement at the shoulder level, warranting a 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's left shoulder DJD is productive of flexion to no worse than 90 degrees and abduction to 60 degrees, with no evidence of ankylosis or dislocation, warranting a 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative arthritis is productive of flexion to no worse than 120 degrees and abduction to 100 degrees, with no evidence of ankylosis or dislocation, warranting a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal for his son D.A. as a 'helpless child' on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining age 18 is dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition, thoracolumbar spine condition, and left shoulder disability as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for an additional VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability. The Veteran is seeking a higher evaluation for his service-connected left shoulder tendinopathy and arthritis post-clavicle resection.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration due to incomplete records, including personnel records and treatment records. The Veteran was not notified of missing records or given an opportunity to respond.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Service connection for myositis of the left upper extremity is denied due to lack of a diagnosis and no link to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as the Veteran's representative withdrew all issues on appeal in a September 2020 correspondence.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder radiculopathy, but denied service connection for an upper back disability.,Service connection was granted for the Veteran's right shoulder radiculopathy as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss due to lack of a current diagnosis. The Veteran's flat feet are remanded as the VA examiner did not adequately address whether they were aggravated by service.,The Board has denied entitlement to a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's flat feet are remanded as the VA examiner did not provide an opinion on their etiology.,The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for flat feet, right knee condition (secondary to service-connected left knee condition), back condition, and right shoulder condition. The right middle finger laceration residual claim is also remanded.,The VA examiner was asked to determine if the Veteran's right knee condition is secondary to his service-connected left knee condition. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that any currently diagnosed back, right shoulder and right shoulder scar disabilities are related to in-service injuries.,The VA examiner was asked to determine if the Veteran's right middle finger laceration residual is related to an in-service injury, event or disease. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that any currently diagnosed back, right shoulder and right shoulder scar disabilities are related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right shoulder strain and AC joint separation was dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the issue.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy (bilateral shoulder and elbow conditions), bilateral wrist arthritis, and bilateral knee arthritis. The claims for right foot gout and right foot condition (to include pes planus and plantar fasciitis) have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and clarification of certain issues, including whether his disabilities are related to service or if they were aggravated by service. The liver disability claim was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The appeal for entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability is dismissed.,Issues of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle/foot disability, right ankle disability, and right knee disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a low back disability due to incomplete development.,No current diagnosis of a left wrist condition was found during the examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and awarded a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's left shoulder osteoarthritis with calcified peri-tendinosis. The issues of increased ratings have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete medical records. The issues include initial ratings for left shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities, service connection for sinusitis, and secondary service connection for pain and numbness in both legs and feet.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of July 6, 2011, for service connection of rheumatoid arthritis in his bilateral wrist, hand, ankle, elbow, and shoulder. The decision is based on the fact that the claim was not filed until July 6, 2011.