Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, particularly chronic fatigue syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disability, headaches, respiratory disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left elbow disability, right elbow disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left eye disability, and right eye disability. Additionally, an updated VA examination is needed for his service-connected psychiatric disorder and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's cataracts were denied as the evidence did not show that they began during service or are related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The chloracne was granted as it became manifest within one year of his separation from service and is presumed due to herbicide exposure.,Asbestosis and COPD were both denied as there was no evidence showing that the conditions began during service or are related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome is currently rated at 20 percent prior to October 6, 2020 and greater than 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran's right hip strain is currently rated at 10 percent prior to April 6, 2015 and greater than 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis with invertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine with spondyloarthropathy is currently rated at 40 percent. The Veteran's cervical spine strain is currently rated at 30 percent.,The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome and TDIU are both remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection of his left shoulder condition due to inadequate previous examinations and failure to consider the Veteran's assertions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, elbow, wrist, hand, and shoulder disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during or were otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the right shoulder disability was aggravated by a service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee chondromalacia patella with instability was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period prior to July 16, 2010 due to his service-connected disabilities making it impossible for him to maintain gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of the conditions, including right knee chondromalacia, left knee Palligrini-Stieda's disease with chondromalacia, seborrheic dermatitis, bilateral pes planus, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), neck or cervical spine disability, and low back or thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has denied service connection for neck, lumbar spine, right shoulder, right arm, right leg, and left leg disorders as they are not shown to be related to active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of respiratory, left index finger, and left shoulder disabilities before the decision was made. As a result, these claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's service records do not show any right shoulder, left shoulder, or right knee disabilities. The Board finds no current diagnoses of these conditions.,There is no evidence of a current acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD.

The Board has determined that remand is necessary to ensure that VA fulfilled its duty to assist the Veteran in substantiating his appeal regarding service connection for left shoulder pain, bilateral knee pain, and bilateral foot pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for compression fracture of L1, cervical segmental dysfunction, neck pain, and myofascitis and arthritis, bilateral pes planus, and left shoulder osteoarthritis have been reopened. The Board found that new evidence supports reopening these claims but denied the underlying service connection due to lack of a nexus between the conditions and active service.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not support a direct or secondary relationship to service. The Veteran's current right shoulder condition is attributed to osteoarthritis, which developed post-service and was not related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, left shoulder, left deltoid bursitis, left ulnar neuropathy, right hip, and left hip disabilities are granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma is remanded, as is his claim for service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as he is currently employed by the United States Federal Government.

Your service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea and left shoulder strain have been granted in full, so there is no longer a controversy to resolve.

The Veteran's left knee condition was rated as 10 percent prior to June 27, 2014 and denied a higher rating. The current rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and heel spurs is 50 percent effective December 16, 2019.,The Veteran's bursitis of the right shoulder was rated as 20 percent prior to March 29, 2017 and increased to 30 percent from December 16, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities due to insufficient examination findings and lack of consideration of certain factors.