Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, shoulder injury, and diabetes prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation between December 20, 2002, and March 27, 2007. The Board granted Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) effective as of March 27, 2007.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability and his service, as well as its relation to a service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's hypertension, left hip disability, and right shoulder condition are being remanded for further development. Additionally, the TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and breathing problems due to asbestos exposure are being remanded as new opinions are needed.,The Veteran's claim for allergic rhinitis is being remanded because his condition may have worsened since the last examination.,The Veteran's claim for right shoulder disability is being remanded due to insufficient evidence of increased severity over time.,Whether the character of the Veteran's discharge during December 1998 to October 2001 constitutes a bar to VA compensation benefits is being remanded as new opinions are needed regarding mental health issues and insanity.,The Veteran's claim for an undiagnosed illness or MUCMI, including weight changes, idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, spondylitis, autoimmune disease, and chronic fatigue, is being remanded due to the need for clarification of his medical records.,The Veteran's claim for periodic numbness of the lip and jaw (secondary to genioglossal advancement surgery) is being remanded as new opinions are needed regarding the nature and etiology of his condition.,The Veteran's claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is being remanded due to inextricability with the character of discharge issue.,The Veteran's claim for a deviated septum is being remanded due to inextricability with the character of discharge issue.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with other claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment, qualifying for TDIU. The Veteran is not in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, thus SMC on the basis of aid and attendance is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left shoulder and left upper extremity paresthesias due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination. The Veteran's disability evaluations will be reconsidered after additional evidence is obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a secondary service connection theory based on his service-connected cervical spine and right knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability and sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use of the left arm and shoulder, finding that there was not a complete loss of function in the left arm.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for vertigo was denied. The claim for service connection for persistent depression with anxiety is granted, and the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is reopened.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and migraine headaches are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder and left ankle disabilities, including due to flare-ups.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's death and service connection claims due to incomplete evidence, including VA records not submitted during the initial evidentiary window. The appellant is also seeking substitution as claimant for her husband's pending claims.

The Veteran's right shoulder dislocation is granted at a 30 percent evaluation since December 18, 2019. The left shoulder dislocation and limitation of motion are each granted separate evaluations of 30 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran needs a VA examination to address whether his diagnosed disabilities are related to active service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for benign prostate hyperplasia and arthritis of the bilateral knees, elbows, shoulders, and hands due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives. The cervical spine strain claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation. The issues of service connection for jaw, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities are remanded to allow for further examination and determination.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the following claims: whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for a sleep disability, entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability, entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral myositis and lumbar disc degeneration, entitlement to a compensable rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee tendonitis. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete service treatment records. The VA must conduct additional searches for these records and provide a response in writing if they are found to be unavailable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.,The Veteran has multiple unresolved claims related to his military service, including those involving his shoulders, back, hips, elbows, hands, wrists, and knees.