Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder with tendinosis of the rotator cuff is currently rated at 20 percent, but does not meet criteria for a higher rating due to functional impairment.,The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis with achilles tendonitis was initially rated at 30 percent and later increased to 50 percent. The current ratings are denied as the evidence does not support an increase in disability beyond these levels.

The Board has determined that there are deficiencies in the VA opinions and remands the case for further development to obtain an adequate opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disorders.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, characterized by a full thickness rotator cuff tear and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, has been rated at 30 percent since October 19, 2017. The Board also granted TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disorder and denied service connection for heart disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction (secondary to heart disorder).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo medical evaluations for all claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including knee and shoulder conditions, as well as a lumbar spine disability. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder pain, including whether new and material evidence has been received. The Board dismissed this issue as a result.

The Board has found the VA examinations inadequate and remanded the issues for further examination. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various joint disabilities, including arthritis of multiple joints, elbow disability, bilateral shoulder disability, wrist disability (including CTS), and right-hand disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and left knee/leg disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his active military service or service-connected conditions.,The Board also found that the Veteran's current right shoulder degenerative joint disease is not directly related to his service, nor is it proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder condition, low back condition, bilateral knee conditions, bilateral plantar fasciitis, sinusitis, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, erectile dysfunction, right ankle condition, and sleep apnea and associated sleeping disorder. The appeals are not about service connection at all.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection of his left and right shoulder disabilities due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as of November 1, 2016 due to her service-connected disabilities preventing her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral elbow, shoulder, wrist, hip, and ankle disabilities.,The Board also dismissed the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for VR&E benefits, other than employment services, to include training in pursuit of a career as an attorney. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his vocational goal.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient rationale in the medical opinions provided. The VA is required to obtain a new opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether these disabilities are related to service, specifically pushups during active duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, right wrist disability, left shoulder disability, and psychiatric disability (depression). The appeals are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted prior to March 17, 2017. From that date forward, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board also found no service connection for his right shoulder disability or bilateral feet cold injury residuals.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, finding that it is not proximately due to, aggravated by, or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board revised a previous decision to assign a 20% rating for painful motion of the right shoulder, effective from April 30, 2018. The decision also denied assigning separate ratings for frequent dislocations and painful motion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for breathing related disorder (claimed as anxiety), left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition have been denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for these conditions.