Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for various joint disorders, including those allegedly due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding of actual or presumptive exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further evidentiary development, including an addendum to a previous VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder disability is aggravated by his service-connected right wrist/CTS.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The TDIU claim from December 17, 2010 has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to assess his current disabilities and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his right shoulder dislocation and rotator cuff disability are denied. The effective date for the grant of a 20% rating for right shoulder dislocation is also denied.

The Board has decided to remand all issues on appeal due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal and unclear preferences regarding informal conferences. The RO is instructed to obtain VA treatment records from Little Rock VA Medical Center and update the Veteran’s VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder disability were denied as the medical evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 31, 2013 or since that date.

The Veteran's right shoulder sprain disability rating was reduced from 30 percent to 0 percent effective March 1, 2017. The Board found the reduction void ab initio due to lack of evidence showing actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including pulmonary hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and multiple joint issues, render him in need of regular aid and assistance due to his inability to perform daily activities without help. SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and a temporary total disability rating. The main issue is that further medical examinations are needed due to the passage of time since previous evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue, memory problems, and joint pain of the left shoulder, bilateral elbows, and hips have all been denied as they are not due to an undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability.,Service connection has only been granted for obstructive sleep apnea, which is attributed to chronic fatigue.

The Board granted higher ratings for several conditions, including PTSD, right hip disability, allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, BPH, right elbow disability, right hallux valgus, left hallux valgus, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran is now eligible for attorney fees based on past due benefits awarded in the August 2014 Board decision.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination as they were not fully addressed in previous decisions.

The Board has denied service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder injury and psychiatric disability, but has remanded the low back injury claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided are inadequate and remanded for further action. The issues of service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder, vascular disease, neuropathy, and coronary artery disease, are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left elbow and shoulder disabilities, as well as muscle spasms allegedly related to Gulf War exposure. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, leg cramps, and shin splints as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for mental disorder due to traumatic stress also claimed as anxiety, depression and chronic adjustment disorder is granted. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right shoulder disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for degenerative joint disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder condition and a psychiatric condition due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service causation.

The Board found that the Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal for his claims, and thus the August 2016 rating decision is final.