Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence regarding the Veteran's left shoulder strain, including medical records from recent treatment. The right knee instability rating remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability and an initial compensable rating for his skin disability. The Board found that the pre-existing right shoulder condition did not worsen during service, and thus service connection was denied. For the skin disability, the Board noted that it involved less than 5% of the entire body or exposed areas, with no more than topical therapy required over the past year, resulting in a denial of an initial compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient development and consideration of his claims, particularly regarding the motor vehicle accident in May 1988. Additional VA opinions are needed to address the relationship between his current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 16, 2009 to August 13, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA opinions and requests that the Veteran complete a new VA Form 21-8940. Additional medical opinion is needed regarding the functional effect of the Veteran's migraine headaches on her employment, as well as the combined effect of all service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right shoulder osteoarthritis, PTSD, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction secondary to prostate cancer are all granted. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings were denied as her conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for frostbite, left foot was denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of frostbite and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various types of arthritis, including left shoulder, right shoulder, jaw, left leg, and right leg arthritis. The Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while stationed on Okinawa and may have been exposed to other toxic substances during his service.

The Veteran's left hand disability, hypertension, and psychiatric disability are not service-connected.,Service connection for a back disability is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete compliance with prior remand instructions. The Veteran is required to provide updated private treatment records and VA outpatient treatment records, as well as undergo medical examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not show it was incurred during or related to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine, low back, right hip, left hip, left knee, and left shoulder disabilities. The Veteran's military occupational specialty was infantryman, and he reported experiencing pain in his knees during a VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure of the AOJ to provide a Statement of the Case (SOC) as requested in a previous remand. The Veteran must file a substantive appeal within the next 60 days.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected scars and left facial pain syndrome have been denied.,The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a low back injury due to insufficient examination.

The Board has ordered the Veteran's military personnel records to be obtained and VA examinations are needed to determine if his current disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequacies in prior examinations and the need to assess additional functional impairment during the appeal period.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was productive of level I hearing acuity in the right ear and level II acuity in the left ear at its worse throughout the rating period on appeal.,The Veteran’s noncompensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is based on the results of the February 2012, July 2014, and December 2019 VA examinations. Based on the audiological test results, a compensable rating is not warranted for this time period.,The Veteran’s noncompensable rating for his service-connected left knee strain with degenerative joint disease is based on the results of the June 2019 VA examination. A new VA examination is needed to determine the present claim due to lack of range of motion testing during flare-ups and passive range of motion.,The Veteran’s noncompensable rating for his service-connected left knee strain with degenerative joint disease is based on the results of the June 2019 VA examination. A new VA examination is needed to determine the present claim due to lack of range of motion testing during flare-ups and passive range of motion.,The Veteran’s noncompensable rating for his service-connected skin disability (skin tags) is based on the results of the July 2019 VA examination. An addendum medical opinion is needed to assess the nature and etiology of his diagnosed skin tags.,The Veteran’s noncompensable rating for his service-connected joint pain (left elbow and/or shoulder) is based on the results of the June and July 2019 VA examinations. An addendum medical opinion is needed to assess the nature and etiology of his diagnosed left shoulder and left elbow disabilities.,The Veteran’s noncompensable rating for his service-connected left-hand disability is based on the results of the July 2019 VA examination. An addendum medical opinion is needed to determine whether the left-hand disability was incurred in service.