Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate November 2017 VA examination. The Veteran needs a new examination to determine the current severity of his right shoulder tendonitis.

The claims for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, left shoulder disability, neck disability, and acquired psychiatric disability have been granted.

The Board has denied service connection for emphysema, heart disability, obstructive sleep apnea, psychiatric disability (including anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)), memory loss, right shoulder and cervical spine disability, skin disability, and vertigo. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions on the issues of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,No new or material evidence was submitted that could establish a link between the current diagnoses and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition is granted, and the rating for his status post shrapnel in neck injury is restored to 30 percent effective May 16, 2017.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability was denied, as the evidence did not show that his range of motion had been limited to 25 degrees from the side at any point during the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and an increased rating for cervical spondylosis with foraminal stenosis at C6-C7. The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is not considered service-connected, and the current evaluation of 10% for cervical spine disability prior to December 23, 2014, remains unchanged.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his skin condition, shoulder rotator cuff tears, and TDIU claim. The VA will provide a new examination for his verrucae, penis and right leg condition and bilateral shoulder rotator cuff tear disabilities, as well as an addendum opinion addressing secondary service connection for these conditions. Additionally, the AOJ must issue a supplemental statement of the case regarding the TDIU claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing VA and private treatment records, which are necessary for a proper evaluation of the Veteran's right shoulder scar.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding cervical spine, right knee, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities. Service connection claims for lumbar spine disability and gastrointestinal disability are also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further examination. The claims of service connection for left knee and shoulder disabilities are being returned for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and right knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition during the periods specified.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left hip disability, groin muscle disability, left shoulder disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the service connection issues for additional development due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were previously denied, and new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims. The claim for increased rating for left shoulder acromioclavicular separation residuals was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of general joint pain, as no opinion was provided on this issue in the previous November 2020 VA opinions.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including degenerative joint disease, infraspinatus tear, and ganglion cyst, has been rated at 30 percent since February 9, 2018. The rating is based on limitation of motion to a degree that meets the criteria for a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5201.

The Board denied service connection for cervical disability and left shoulder strain, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service or any other period of duty. The Veteran's current conditions are attributed to age-related degeneration and overuse.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disorder due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including a right leg disorder, bilateral shoulder disorders, back disorder, bilateral hip disorders, bilateral hearing loss, heart disorder, erectile dysfunction, and headache disorder. The appeals are now remanded for further development.