Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's hypertension, left eye pterygium with dry eye syndrome, right wrist ganglion cyst with painful motion, lumbar spine IVDS, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability have been rated based on their respective service-connected conditions. The Veteran received a combined schedular rating of 100 percent from April 1, 2014.

The Veteran's shin splints of the right lower extremity have been granted an initial disability rating of at least 10 percent, but his claims for service connection and increased ratings for other conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the presence of current disabilities and their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to deficiencies in the September 2019 VA examination reports and for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement with rotator cuff tear claim is being remanded for another VA examination to assess the severity of her condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and missing records. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is alleged to have made his current gunshot wound residuals more severe, and he also claims a right shoulder disability is related to his service-connected low back condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, bilateral foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and lumbar spine disability due to missing evidence in the Veteran's May 2021 submission.

The Veteran's right shoulder tendinosis and DDD of the thoracolumbar spine have been granted increased ratings, but further examination is needed to determine if higher ratings are warranted.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left shoulder and arm conditions are related to his active service or secondary to a service-connected right shoulder condition. The claims will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, and no higher. The left shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent prior to December 29, 2020, and 40 percent from that date forward.,The Board found the evidence insufficient to grant a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension.

The Board dismissed all the appeals as they are related to deceased Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder osteoarthritis and chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis have been remanded due to the submission of additional VA examination and clinical documentation. The case will be returned to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment, leading the Board to grant his claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for head injury residuals, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability.,Further examination is needed to determine if any of these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's TBI and right shoulder disability were not rated higher than the current levels, with the case being remanded for further evaluation of plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and left shoulder disability have been granted service connection, with a higher rating for the left shoulder. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and military personnel file, as well as any private medical records. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to May 29, 2020. She is also found unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on statutory housebound basis is denied as he does not have any disability rated at 100 percent disabling, including a single disability on which total disability rating (TDIU) may be based.