Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain an addendum regarding his psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back and left shoulder conditions due to insufficient development. The Veteran's contentions regarding in-service injuries and continuity of symptoms are not addressed by the VA examiners.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of hands or feet, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ankylosis of knees or hips. Therefore, the Veteran is denied financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's left shoulder arthritis and right total knee replacement have been granted service connection, with a 60% disability rating for the right knee effective April 1, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disability, cervical spine disability, right and left upper extremity neurological disabilities, bilateral shoulder and hand disabilities, and bilateral hip disability due to inextricably intertwined issues. The VA must obtain addendum opinions from the February 2021 VA examiner regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for a heart disability and a medical opinion on whether his current hip disability is secondary to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's right shoulder bursitis is rated at 20% prior to March 18, 2021 and 30% thereafter. The claim for a higher rating for major depressive disorder with psychotic features from March 18, 2021 onwards is remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension, dermatological disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and left shoulder disorder are all found to be preexisting conditions. The Board has determined that the claims for these conditions must be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and ensuring that all documents are properly associated with the Veteran's claims file.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was received to reconsider the Veteran's claims on appeal. The Veteran is currently diagnosed with left knee, lower back, and right shoulder disabilities; service treatment records confirm treatment for left knee and back conditions; and he is service connected for a right knee disability. The Board finds remand necessary due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the right shoulder disability, so there are no issues to decide.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 29, 2013, for the grant of service connection of migraine headaches has been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 50 percent for her migraines.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected migraine headaches remains denied as there are no additional symptoms or residuals that would warrant a higher rating under the applicable criteria.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of viral meningitis has been denied due to lack of evidence of a present disability and insufficient evidence linking any in-service incident to current symptoms.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of her left hand disability (claimed as a pinched nerve) remains pending, with the issue remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral plantar fasciitis has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is remanded.,The Veteran's claims for left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities are both pending, with the issues remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of her left elbow injury (claimed as a pinched nerve) remains pending, with the issue remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of peripheral enthesopathy (claimed as shin pain) is pending and has been remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of polyuria is pending and has been remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection of her lumbar spine disability, skin condition (claimed as tinea pedis and toenail fungus), and skin condition (claimed as acne) are all pending and have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right shoulder arthroplasty, status post dislocation with degenerative arthritis, prior to October 17, 2016, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to the death of the appellant during the appeal process.

The Veteran's dizziness is found to be related to his service-connected cardiovascular disabilities.,There is no evidence that the right shoulder disability began during service or is linked to any in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has remanded the cases due to failure of the Veteran to report for VA examinations. The case is being returned to provide the necessary examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues, including reconsideration of the previously denied claim for service connection for depression and a remand for evaluation of the right shoulder disability. The effective date for granting service connection for the right shoulder disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether VA negligence caused the right shoulder disability, including right brachial plexopathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cervical strain, left shoulder strain, and right shoulder strain due to failure to obtain a medical opinion from a medical doctor as requested in previous remands. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability due to inadequate examination and failure to comply with prior remand directives. The matter remains on appeal as higher ratings remain available.