Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication due to issues with the left shoulder disability, including a TDIU claim prior to September 3, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and need for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left shoulder disability is related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The appeals for bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, and personality disorder have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims.,The appeals for increased ratings of right knee chondromalacia and right hand minimal motor and mild sensory loss have also been dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, finding that it is not related to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and lumbar spine condition due to missing private treatment records. The Veteran is requested to provide authorization for release of his private medical records from Kell Medical, Geisinger, and UPMC Williamsport. If relevant medical records are obtained, VA examinations should be scheduled to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current left shoulder disability and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The Raynaud's phenomena claim is remanded as additional development is needed to determine if it is related to a service-connected condition.

The Board has dismissed all the Veteran's claims as the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disability and its relationship to service-connected residuals of a midline episiotomy.

The Veteran's prostate condition and OSA and mild positional sleep apnea are not related to service, including exposure to herbicide agents or asbestos. The right shoulder disability is being remanded for a determination on the etiology of the condition.,COPD was diagnosed during the appeal period but the VA examiner did not provide an opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected Parkinson's disease and/or other conditions. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is being remanded for a more contemporaneous examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he died during the pendency of his case, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim at this time.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right and left shoulder strains, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and left knee arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU from July 27, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal regarding increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, left knee strain, and left shoulder strain was remanded. The appeal as to the issue of an increased rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arthritis of the shoulders, left ankle, right knee, cervical spine, and right wrist, are granted. The Veteran is also awarded a 20% rating for his left knee disability since June 12, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left lower extremity disabilities have resulted in permanent loss of use of both feet, qualifying him for financial assistance to purchase an automobile or adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disability, specifically whether it is related to his military service. The AOJ must obtain additional medical records and provide an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral bicep condition, anemia, and hypertension. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right shoulder disorder, and skin disorder due to a lack of relevant service treatment records. The Veteran testified that his injuries occurred during service while carrying a casket.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent for right shoulder disability due to withdrawal by the appellant's representative. The TDIU issue is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee, left knee, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and disc disease (low back disability), left shoulder disability, and left leg/hip disability due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.