Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, knee, wrist, elbow, and shoulder disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of in-service disease or injury, and that any current conditions are not related to her active military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and mandibular disability have been granted service connection. The lumbar spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, and bilateral foot conditions are being remanded for further review.,Service connection has been established for the Veteran's tinnitus and mandibular disability. Further examination is needed to determine if his current lumbar spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, and bilateral foot conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized as left shoulder strain with bicipital tendonitis, impingement syndrome and labral tear, is rated at 30 percent since May 10, 2017. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date is denied.

The Board has vacated the March 15, 2019 decision denying extraschedular ratings for right and left shoulder disabilities. The motion for revision or reversal on grounds of clear and unmistakable error is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions remain pending and need further examination and consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examination reports and missing service treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for TBI residuals. The Veteran's left shoulder disability was granted service connection.,PTSD was not rated higher than 70 percent, and SMC at the (s) rate was granted.

The Board has denied a higher rating for the Veteran's right shoulder disability and remanded the claim of a higher rating for his right knee meniscus tear due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, left shoulder, and left ankle disabilities as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder disability, residual scars of the left shoulder, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has dismissed the legacy appeals regarding the Veteran's ratings for his service-connected bilateral shoulder disabilities as he opted into the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) review system.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and individual unemployability was denied. For the PTSD, a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to September 30, 2019 and in excess of 70 percent effective September 30, 2019 is not warranted based on his symptoms. For IU, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and opinions to address secondary service connection claims.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension with headaches, skin cancer on shoulders, back and face, bilateral eye disability (cataracts and diabetic retinopathy), peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, porphyria cutanea tarda, and coronary artery disease. The reasons were that there was no evidence to support these conditions being related to service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, effective August 4, 2010. The appeal for a higher rating continues.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity pain and numbness are both denied.,The Veteran’s claims for service connection were not established as his lumbar spine disability did not have its onset in service or is otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left shoulder strain, determination of disability rating for left shoulder strain, and TDIU. The Veteran's left shoulder strain is currently rated at 20%.

The Board has found that the VA treatment of methadone and morphine caused multiple falls, resulting in additional orthopedic, neurological, cognitive, and vision disabilities. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right eye injury, left shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and right ankle disability. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.,Nonservice-connected pension benefits are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for a Right Shoulder Disorder, but the issue of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for failure to treat a ruptured right rotator cuff remains denied.

The Veteran's left shoulder condition is granted service connection and an effective date of February 6, 2001.,Service connection for Bell's palsy of the right and left cranial nerves is also granted with effective dates of February 6, 2001.