Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from obtaining and securing substantially gainful employment that is consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for his right shoulder conditions. The Board denied these claims, finding that the effective date cannot be earlier than June 3, 2014.,The Veteran's claim was originally denied in July 1978 and reopened on June 3, 2014 when he submitted a new claim to reopen his right shoulder conditions. The Board found no CUE in the original denial.

The Board has denied service connection for various joint conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis of the neck, right shoulder, left shoulder, right elbow, left elbow, right index finger, right ankle, and left ankle. The decision is based on insufficient evidence to establish a direct link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI was granted a rating of 50 percent from February 6, 2007 to July 18, 2009.,Service connection for bilateral shoulder conditions was denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's lay contentions of symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, right hip, left wrist, and right shoulder disabilities due to conflicting opinions from VA examiners. The Veteran asserts that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, but the Board found that they do not warrant higher ratings based on limitation of motion.,For his left shoulder disability, the Veteran was initially awarded a 10 percent rating in March 2007 and later increased to 20 percent in August 2020. The Board concluded that he does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection is denied for hypertension as there is no competent medical evidence showing a link between current hypertension and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a lack of sufficient competent medical evidence to decide the claim, and an examination is required.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities not precluding him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right mandibular fracture, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right hand disability, and service connection for a left shoulder disability due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The claim for a TDIU is also REMANDED as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his in-service fall and its impact on his current disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his post-operative left rotator cuff tear, finding that it was not secondary to his service-connected right shoulder acromioclavicular atrophy.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an adequate opinion regarding the likely etiology of the claimed left shoulder disability. The Veteran needs to be examined by an appropriate clinician to determine if his current left shoulder disability is related to service, including exposure to radiation from heart catheterizations.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability is reopened, but the claims for arthritis of the right and left feet as well as bilateral pes planus are denied.,A new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities due to incomplete records, specifically Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records. The SSA records may support the Veteran’s claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder, right arm, left arm, left leg, right leg, and neck disorders are granted as they are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete compliance with previous directives and new evidence is needed. The issues include left shoulder, left knee, right knee, low back, and sciatica (left side) disorders.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, left and right shoulder disabilities, type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and TDIU due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,Service connection is granted for hypertension, as it was diagnosed within one year of separation from service and presumed related to service.