Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for further medical guidance on the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral shoulder condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tear and strain were granted a 20 percent rating effective January 26, 2012 to July 22, 2016. Ratings higher than 20 percent for the period beginning July 22, 2016 are denied.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine degenerative disc disease C5-6, right arm numbness and tingling, and right shoulder condition have been reopened. The Board has remanded these issues due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding aggravation during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability prevents him from following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,The Veteran is also having his right shoulder and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome evaluated as they have not been examined in over a year.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete reasoning in a previous VA opinion and the need for additional private treatment records. The Veteran's left shoulder disorder may be related to service, but more evidence is needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder disability were denied as the evidence did not show that he met the schedular criteria for a higher rating under DC 5201.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, left shoulder condition, left wrist condition, and right shoulder condition due to incomplete development of records and failure to consider lay statements in the nexus opinions.

The Veteran's left shoulder strain has been rated at 20 percent since April 1, 2014. The Board found that the disability does not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of limitation of motion to midway between the side and shoulder level.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities, as well as right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for right shoulder, low back, and left knee conditions due to incomplete service records. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for private treatment records related to his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of irritable bowel syndrome was denied. The Board also remanded the issues regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen previously denied claims for a right hip disability, left shoulder disability, Arnold-Chiari malformation with syringomyelia, and a left arm condition.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder, left wrist, right wrist, left hip, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions in the March 2019 examination report.

The appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims. The low back disability, OSA, acquired psychiatric disorder (excluding PTSD), right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right knee chondromalacia patella, and left knee chondromalacia patella claims have all been reopened.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to new VA medical records being associated with his case.

The Board has remanded the claim due to insufficient evidence regarding the need for convalescence following the Veteran's left shoulder surgery. The VA will obtain a medical opinion to determine if at least one month of convalescence was required.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions should be remanded to allow for consideration of new evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, neck, low back, and left hip conditions as there is no competent evidence linking these disabilities to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbosacral disc disease and right shoulder traumatic bursitis.