Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Veteran requested to withdraw appeals for increased disability ratings for arteriosclerotic heart disease, left shoulder subacromial subdeltoid bursitis with glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis, and right elbow epicondylitis.,The Veteran also requested to withdraw the appeal for service connection for hypertension. The claim is reopened due to new evidence received since the final September 2010 rating decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a VA examination. The examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that his current right shoulder disability, including tendonitis and/or degenerative joint disease, is related to an injury in service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the increased rating for lumbar spine disability and service connection claims for left shoulder, vision problems, sinusitis, muscle spasms, migraine headaches, and ankle sprains. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction, urinary frequency, loss of bladder control, and left shoulder disability have all been denied as they are not service-connected.,Service connection has not been established for any of the conditions listed.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability has been dismissed as he has withdrawn the appeal due to favorable dispositions on other claims and the granting of a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral foot condition, right shoulder strain, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for additional opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disorder, finding that his current condition is not related to his active duty service.

The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence does not support limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including any symptoms or functional impairment other than limitation of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple musculoskeletal disabilities, including cervical strain, multilevel DJD and DDD of the lumbar spine, left shoulder arthritis, right shoulder tendonitis, left hip arthritis, right hip trochanteric pain syndrome, bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome, bilateral lateral collateral ligament sprain, and left foot Morton’s neuroma. Service connection for hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and right shoulder disability have been granted. The remaining issues, including those related to the eyes, back, neck, shoulders, and extremities, are being remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability has been reopened, and the case is remanded for further development including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 30 percent is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left shoulder and left arm disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not show that they meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and right shoulder disability, finding that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA examination and further development is needed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected residuals trauma, left shoulder impingement, minor, along with generalized muscle spasms was denied. The Board also found that the Veteran’s TDIU claim should be remanded due to reasonable possibility of unemployability related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left shoulder disability and cervical spine condition. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence, including private treatment records and VA examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including right shoulder disorder, knee disorders, ankle disorders, foot disorders, respiratory disorder, and upper extremity neuropathy. The remand requires additional medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right shoulder strain, lumbar spine strain, and a fractured nasal bone, prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment during the period from January 31, 2011 through December 31, 2014. The Board granted his claim for TDIU based on this evidence.