Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disorder but denied her claims for lumbar spine, left hip, and right hip disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disability, which occurred during INACDUTRA.

The Board has determined that the current medical opinions are inadequate and remanded for further examination to determine if service connection is warranted for bilateral knee, right shoulder, left wrist, and right wrist disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating based on PTSD is moot due to the assignment of a 100% schedular rating. The claims for TDIU and SMC are remanded as further development is needed.

The Veteran's left shoulder condition, characterized by tendinopathy and arthritis, has not met the criteria for an increased evaluation beyond the current 20% rating.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, finding no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence linking the condition to in-service stressors.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral shoulder disability due to lack of in-service injury or disease and insufficient evidence linking current symptoms to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for heartburn and right shoulder disability due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's symptoms need to be re-evaluated by a new examiner who will consider his service history, current medical records, and testimony regarding flare-ups during times of stress.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board granted a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis as of February 1, 2010.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for right upper extremity brachioplexus neuropathy was denied, as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.,For the period from September 21, 2017 to present, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her right shoulder disability was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and left shoulder disorders, finding no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the onset of right shoulder disability during service.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for allergic rhinitis and left shoulder osteoarthritis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating prior to April 12, 2018, or a rating in excess of 30 percent thereafter for his left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of cold injuries to the ankles, feet, hands, shoulders, and neck has been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability attributable to in-service cold injury.,The Veteran's PTSD with secondary alcohol use disorder and cannabis use disorder (PTSD) has been rated at 50 percent, but his claim for an increased rating remains pending.

The Board has found the VA examiner's opinion inadequate and remanded for an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's left shoulder disorder is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis, left hip disability, right hip disability, left shoulder disability, and back disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's AC DJD of the right shoulder was rated at 20 percent prior to June 16, 2016 and at 30 percent since that date. The claims for higher ratings are being remanded.,His recurrent corneal erosion syndrome is not compensable.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and earlier effective dates have been dismissed due to the legacy appeal system. The issues remain as part of the pending appeals under the Legacy Appeals System.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective December 9, 2017, the date she stopped working full-time as a police officer due to her service-connected disabilities. The effective date for TDIU is being considered earlier based on her claim of unemployability.

The Veteran's tinea corporis was granted an initial rating of 30 percent, but denied a higher rating. The joint pain issue is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted as service connected due to a finding of continuous symptoms since service, meeting the requirements for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).