Shoulder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal includes a claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, which is being remanded.,Service connection for the left shoulder disability remains in appellate status.

The Board denied service connection for hypertrophic degeneration and arthritis of the left shoulder, finding that the injuries occurred due to willful misconduct and not in the line of duty.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected degenerative arthritis and IVDS of the thoracolumbar spine, as well as several secondary service connection claims for various joint conditions. The Board has determined that additional development is needed in all these matters.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to failure to appear for VA examinations. The case is returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining examinations and medical opinions as requested.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private medical records, scheduling a new VA examination, and adjudicating the TDIU claim. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated as 20% disabling from January 1, 2010 to June 28, 2011 and exceeding 20% from January 1, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and gambling disorder, are sufficient to render him unemployable without regard to his age or any nonservice-connected disorders. The Board has granted TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU claim from September 2014 to January 2016 is granted. The right shoulder disability and anxiety disorder are remanded for further examination and rating.

The Board has found that another remand is necessary to ensure compliance with its previous remand instructions for VA examinations related to the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot and left foot disabilities, as well as a psychiatric disorder including PTSD. The remaining issues of service connection for liver disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, and right shoulder disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including headache disorder, sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder, abdominal aortic aneurysm, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The decision also found that pre-existing allergies were not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and right shoulder arthritis have been denied as his conditions do not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence does not support limitation of motion to the required degree for a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder conditions due to VA's failure to properly notify the Veteran of its inability to obtain records from Redwood Medical Clinic.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA examinations, specifically regarding range of motion measurements and flare-ups.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, left shoulder, low back, and right hand disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during or were otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left shoulder disability is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for spina bifida occulta, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability due to insufficient analysis in the original decision. The case is returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has not been productive of limited motion to midway between side and shoulder level, so the claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.