Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his right shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations and medical opinions. The left shoulder disability claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder strains are currently rated at 20 percent each, but the Board finds that they do not warrant a higher rating.,Prior to August 13, 2019, the Veteran was granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for lower extremity radiculopathy and service connection for various shoulder, arm, and cervical spine disorders have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Board has determined that these issues are related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with prior remand directives and a need for additional VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, lower back disability, left ankle disability, and hypertension due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's lay statements and buddy statements from his wife and fellow Veterans have been considered.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, prostate disorder, and ED were denied as they are not related to service.,The Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder were also denied as they are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities are related to his periods of active duty training.

The Veteran was found to be unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD, which prevented him from performing the physical demands of his job as a corrections officer. The TDIU is granted for the period from November 8, 2011 to May 1, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions from a VA examiner. The matter is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claims for compensable ratings for her service-connected left lower extremity and right shoulder disabilities, as well as her claim for service connection for a right upper extremity disorder (claimed as a ligament injury in the right wrist), are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety, depression and PTSD is dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal has been granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for memory loss is denied because it is a manifestation of his service-connected PTSD with minor neurocognitive disorder and mild memory loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed as he withdrew the claim. The claims of service connection for sleep apnea, TMJ disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right knee disorder are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gallbladder removal as secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and denied a higher disability rating for his right shoulder rotator cuff evulsion. The evidence did not support finding that the gallbladder condition was related to service or caused by his service-connected lumbar spine disability, nor did it establish direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's neck and right shoulder disorders. The claims for service connection are not granted as there is no evidence that the current conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of travel expenses was denied because it was not filed within the required 30-day period after completing the travel, which included emergency treatment.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these appeals as they have become moot.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right shoulder disability, hypertension, high cholesterol, prostate cancer, and esophagus cancer/surgery have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder condition, back condition, neck condition, and bilateral foot condition as the evidence does not support that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a need for additional medical records and examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine, right shoulder, right eye, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.