Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service connection claims for ganglion cysts, right wrist and left wrist were denied. The Veteran was granted initial compensatory disability ratings for hypertension and cardiomyopathy, as well as an initial 20 percent rating for a left shoulder condition. Other service-connected conditions received increased or new disability ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral elbow disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral shoulder disability. The Veteran's claims for these conditions were not supported by evidence showing they occurred during his period of active service.,Service connection was also denied for a neck disability and bilateral knee disabilities (including residuals of left and right meniscal tears). These claims were based on the absence of medical documentation linking current disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU have been remanded due to the need to obtain additional records, including from his previous employers.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including depressive disorder, lumbosacral strain, bilateral knee replacements, right shoulder arthritis, and radiculopathy of all four extremities) contributed to his obesity, which in turn caused his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of clear evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to his service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder strains are currently rated at 20% each.,Degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with lumbar strain is currently rated at 20% from November 7, 2019 onwards.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board has determined that this rating does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to limitations in motion and pain. The case was remanded for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's neck, right shoulder, and left knee disorders were not incurred or aggravated by military service. The evidence did not show continuity of symptomatology since separation from active duty.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome with bicipital tendonitis and subacromial bursitis is rated at 20 percent effective July 7, 2004 until prior to April 13, 2010 and then effective November 1, 2010.,The Veteran's cervical degenerative disc disease with herniation at C5-C6 and C6-C7 levels with cervical myositis is rated at 20 percent since July 7, 2004. The claim for increased rating remains on appeal.,The Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative disc disease with bulging disc at L1-L2 level with lumbar myositis has not been service connected.

The Board denied a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, finding that they did not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following gainful employment from May 21, 2007 to September 14, 2007. However, the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether he was unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities from May 21, 2008 to November 24, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder is not related to service and denied his claim. The right elbow pronation, left ankle sprain, right elbow calcific tendinosis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee patellar bone spur claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current left shoulder / left arm disorder is aggravated by his service-connected partial left foot drop with left knee arthritis. The VA examiner must provide a rationale for their opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since April 25, 2008.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left shoulder arthritis and frostbite residuals of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's claims for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, right knee condition, allergic rhinitis, and right shoulder condition have been granted. The remaining issues of increased ratings for migraine headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus, and service connection for a right knee condition are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and bilateral shoulder condition due to incomplete records, including military personnel records and treatment records.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities are not rated higher than 20 percent.,Pseudofolliculitis barbae was not rated higher than 10 percent prior to June 28, 2018, but is now rated at 30 percent effective that date. Pes planus remains rated at 30 percent.