Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's shoulder disabilities are at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of May 1, 1967 for the awards of service connection for residuals of recurrent dislocation and status post Magnuson procedure of the right shoulder and a right shoulder scar.

The Board denied the Veteran's motions to reverse or revise the RO’s decisions assigning noncompensable evaluations for his right shoulder and lumbar spine conditions due to a lack of clear and unmistakable error in the initial determinations.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection claim is pending.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at the minimum 10 percent for limitation of flexion, and a non-compensable rating for limitation of extension. The Veteran does not meet criteria for higher ratings under any other diagnostic codes.,The Veteran’s migraine headaches are currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling based on very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a left shoulder disability, and therefore, service connection for his claimed condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches, a low back condition, and a right shoulder condition due to a failure to obtain VA medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection was granted, and he is currently receiving a 10% rating for his residual surgical scar from February 13, 2009 to December 14, 2014. The Veteran’s left shoulder disability has been rated as noncompensable prior to October 3, 2013, and at 20% thereafter.,The Board found that the Veteran's residual surgical scar does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7804.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all conditions currently on appeal, including shoulder strain, neck condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, left hand condition, right hand condition, fatigue, and stomach condition/diarrhea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder or arm disability, left knee or leg disability, right knee or leg disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The maximum schedular ratings have been assigned for his service-connected disabilities, and no higher ratings are warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine, left hip, left shoulder strain, right hip, and right shoulder strain conditions due to insufficient addendum opinions regarding their relationship to service-connected status post lumbar strain with DDD.

The Veteran's claims are reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for PTSD, an initial disability evaluation for cervical spine condition, and bilateral shoulder conditions.

The Veteran's kidney stones are denied as they did not begin during service and there is no evidence linking them to service.,Service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, secondary to the right foot disability, is also denied. The Board found that the current disability does not meet the criteria for service connection.,An increased rating in excess of 10 percent for right metatarsalgia post fracture of the 3rd metatarsal (right foot condition) is denied. The Veteran's claim was also denied for an earlier effective date prior to June 12, 2017.

The Board denied higher initial disability ratings for various conditions, including right knee chondromalacia patella, right shoulder disorder, right wrist disorder, left ankle disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, bladder cancer, ulcerative colitis, Bell's palsy, stroke residuals, hair loss, and skin disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of his right shoulder disability due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examinations and a lack of necessary testing, including an MRI.

The Board denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical dysplasia, breast reduction surgery and its residuals, low back condition, and right shoulder condition.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder dislocation and lumbar spine disability have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's stomach disorder, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder are remanded for further development.