Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and compensation were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, which has been rated at 20 percent since 1967, is not currently manifested by chronic residuals consisting of severe, painful motion or weakness. The VA examiner found intermediate degrees of residual weakness and pain, but the Veteran's range of motion was consistently above 25 degrees on the minor side.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The rating claim for right shoulder degenerative joint disease and the TDIU claim are both remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for right shoulder, right finger, and left finger disorders due to insufficient evidence of a direct service connection. The Veteran's complaints were not documented during active duty, and any subsequent diagnoses are too remote from service.

The Board has denied service connection for a broken bottom tooth, right side of mouth due to lack of evidence of a current disability. The claims for digestive and respiratory disabilities are remanded as the Veteran's lay statements suggest possible presumptive service connection under the Persian Gulf War presumption. Right shoulder, back, neck, and herniated sphincter of diaphragm disabilities are also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected scar and SFW disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for updated VA treatment records and examinations.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability and erectile dysfunction were denied service connection. The initial ratings for lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve were granted with specific ratings.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 10 percent from December 1, 2013, and at 20 percent since August 21, 2019. The Board finds that an initial rating of 20 percent, but no higher, is warranted for the entire period on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for left and right shoulder arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service.,The Veteran's claim for chronic left knee disability was remanded due to incomplete information in her initial application.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal, muscle tear, arthritis of all joints, and bilateral cataracts disabilities. The decision found no current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service, including exposure to radiation and herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, are found to be so severe that they render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and causation of the Veteran's right shoulder disability. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee and left shoulder disorders, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are at least as likely as not related to her military service.,Service connection was also remanded for a right hip disorder due to conflicting medical opinions regarding its existence.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for right shoulder strain, a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and an effective date prior to October 26, 2018 for tinnitus due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right shoulder disorder are granted. The claim for hemorrhoids is dismissed. Service connection for a right shoulder disorder is reopened due to new evidence. A higher rating for low back strain with degenerative disc disease and mild levoscoliosis is granted. An effective date prior to January 17, 2014, for a 60 percent rating for acne is granted. The claim for bilateral hips condition is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed psychiatric and musculoskeletal conditions. The VA will obtain additional medical records, schedule examinations, and provide a thorough review of the Veteran's history.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to the need for additional VA treatment records and consideration of newly developed evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is remanded due to the need for further development regarding his employment status.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for jaw condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, bilateral flatfoot, left wrist tendinitis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.