Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder condition and fibromyalgia due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's hearing testimony and certain service treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and a right hand disability, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service or any incident therein. The Board also found no indication that his service-connected lumbosacral strain with chronic low back pain and functional loss caused or aggravated these disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, left and right knee degenerative arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 25, 2019. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on the benefit-of-the-doubt doctrine.

The Veteran's service connection claim for lipomas of the back, shoulder, neck, and brain is denied. The initial 70 percent rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder prior to October 11, 2017 is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of left and right ankle, leg, or shoulder disabilities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is established for gastritis, with the onset during service.

The Board has granted service connection for left wrist arthritis and remanded the issues of service connection for left elbow and shoulder disabilities due to a fall during active duty.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a left elbow condition, a left finger condition (claimed as left knuckle), and a left shoulder condition (claimed as left clavicle) due to new and material evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings were denied. However, the Board granted a 30 percent rating for left shoulder dislocation beginning October 10, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right knee and left shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied service connection for right knee and right shoulder disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to her military service.,The Veteran was also denied TDIU as her service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to perform activities of daily living without assistance, including bathing and dressing. The Board finds that he is in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for residuals of a back injury was denied, as the new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,His petition to reopen his claim for right arm condition was granted, as the new evidence related to an unestablished fact (the etiology of the right arm condition) and raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

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

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral shoulder disorder, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral wrist/arm disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and cervical spine disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Additional development is needed for the Veteran's claim regarding bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's right knee replacement is rated at 60 percent from June 1, 2013 to March 7, 2016.,The Veteran was denied a TDIU prior to December 6, 2016 due to his service-connected disabilities not precluding less strenuous employment.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar arthritis and left shoulder arthritis, but granted service connection for a right lower extremity achilles tendon condition.,Service connection was established for lumbar strain.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a back disability, sexual dysfunction, eye disorder, facial myalgia, intraoral leukoplakia, right shoulder disability, and intercostal rib sprain. The AOJ is required to obtain additional medical records and provide an opinion regarding the relationship of these disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back injury and left shoulder disability has been granted. The VA is remanding the claims for increased ratings for his elbow, wrist, and knee disabilities, as well as the TDIU issue.