Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD has been denied. The claims for effective dates earlier than March 25, 2015, for the grant of service connection for these conditions have also been denied. The claim for COPD has been reopened due to new evidence submitted. Service connection for tension headaches is granted. Service connection for a back disability and high cholesterol are denied. Service connection for left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities as well as disabilities manifested by left and right hand numbness are not established. The Veteran's TDIU claim related to PTSD is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability, right shoulder disability, left ring finger disability, and bilateral knee disability. The case is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a right shoulder disability due to insufficient evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him incapable of securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, bilateral arm, lumbar spine, and myositis of the paralumbar spine muscles disabilities. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have also been denied.

Service connection for a right shoulder disability is granted.,A rating of 30 percent for primary insomnia from January 20, 2009 through December 17, 2014 is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left leg neuropathy and bilateral shoulder disorder, including as due to a service-connected lumbosacral spine disability. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of left leg neuropathy or an etiological link between the claimed conditions and active service.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits is being remanded due to changes in his service-connected disabilities and the need for a new vocational rehabilitation assessment considering all evidence of record.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability was increased to 20 percent in May 2016, but the Board denied a higher initial rating in March 2018. The case is being remanded again due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for back, left ankle, and right ankle disorders, as well as an increased rating for the service-connected left shoulder partial rotator cuff tear. The Veteran will need to undergo further VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to evaluate her current severity of service-connected disabilities, including neck, shoulder, and hip injuries. The AOJ must also consider new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various disabilities, including headaches, a right knee disability, a back disability, a left shoulder disability, and a left hand and thumb disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his combined evaluation did not meet the minimum combined rating criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for his service-connected depression and adhesive capsulitis of the right shoulder was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a disability rating greater than 30 percent for depression prior to July 16, 2014; greater than 50 percent from July 16, 2014, until July 12, 2019; and greater than 70 percent since July 12, 2019. The Veteran's depression was rated at a maximum of 70 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of erectile dysfunction and right wrist disability as secondary to his service-connected left wrist disability. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his service or a service-connected condition.,Regarding the left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities, the Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether they are caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected left wrist disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the receipt of additional VA treatment records and examination reports. The AOJ will consider all evidence in the first instance before readjudicating the claims.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder, finding that the Veteran's current arthritis is not related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for low back, left shoulder, right shoulder, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence of current disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for left shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, GERD, and cervical spine disability due to incomplete record development. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not considered in determining secondary service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in their original decision. The case is sent back for further development, including a new examination.