Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder, finding that the condition was not incurred in or related to military service.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis and scapulocostal syndrome was granted at a 40 percent level, effective from April 30, 2007. The TDIU appeal is denied as the service-connected disabilities do not prevent the Veteran from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right shoulder, right hand, back, right knee, left knee, and acquired psychiatric disorders due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of clear evidence.,Service connection will be further evaluated based on additional evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for clarification of the Veteran's periods of active duty. The claims for sleep apnea, neck disorder, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, bilateral hearing loss, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all remanded.

The Board denied the Appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, left shoulder disability, residuals from traumatic brain injury, nerve condition, and bilateral hearing loss. The decisions were based on a lack of new and material evidence to support reopening these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is service-connected as it is at least in equipoise with his claim, and thus grants the appeal.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent since August 27, 2013. The Board found that the current rating is appropriate as his range of motion does not more nearly approximate limitation of arm motion halfway between the side and shoulder level.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to re-open claims for service connection for post-operative knee conditions, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and lower back condition. The claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder is also remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's right upper extremity sustained additional disability following surgery in 2005, but the Board found that this was not caused by VA treatment and denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability with impairment of humerus is rated at 20 percent prior to August 18, 2016 and greater than 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's left shoulder disability with degenerative joint disease is rated at 30 percent beginning August 5, 2019.,The Veteran's TDIU claim has been denied as his combined rating does not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various shoulder and arm disorders due to incomplete development of his service treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to make further efforts to obtain these records, including contacting the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and the National Personnel Records Center.

The Board has granted service connection for drug and alcohol abuse as due to service-connected PTSD, but the claims for a right shoulder disability, diabetes mellitus, and spondylolisthesis of the L5 sacrum are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder pain and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to aggravation by assistive devices used for service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional private treatment records related to the Veteran's torn labrum left shoulder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for additional evidence. The claims include low back, left shoulder, left hip, left knee, right hip, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current left shoulder disability to his military service, including an in-service football injury. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's left shoulder disability was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation higher than 30 percent for service-connected insomnia prior to August 20, 2012 has been dismissed as the earlier effective date for major depressive disorder (MDD) with insomnia rendered the issue moot.,The combined disability rating from August 9, 2017 is denied as it does not exceed 80 percent.,The combined disability rating from April 11, 2018 is denied as it does not exceed 90 percent.,The combined disability rating from June 14, 2019 and August 1, 2020 is denied as it does not exceed 100 percent.,The initial evaluation for service-connected right shoulder strain with arthritis after October 1, 2018 remains unchanged.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral pes planus, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and a left hip disorder were denied. The claim for tinnitus was granted.,Service connection for the Veteran’s right hip disorder, left knee disorder, and right shoulder disorder was not established.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the neck and right shoulder disabilities are proximately caused or aggravated by the service-connected back disability.