Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder and hip disorders due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran will need new VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran's bilateral foot condition and left shoulder disability are granted as service-connected.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's bilateral foot condition, which he contends was caused by cold water exposure during diving. Service treatment records show instances of decompression sickness (DCS), and private medical evidence supports this contention.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was previously denied a higher rating, and the Board has now remanded for further development.,The Veteran's right ankle disability is also being remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU prior to February 29, 2012, finding that he was not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities before this date.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim for service connection for a left knee/left tibia disability is granted. The VA has remanded the cases of increased rating for right shoulder arthritis, rating for left shoulder surgical scars, and service connection for right hip osteoarthritis and trochanteric pain syndrome.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation due to the need for aid and attendance and/or due to being housebound, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for such benefits.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's ability to work.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of various disabilities.,New and material evidence has been submitted, allowing the reopening of claims for bilateral hearing loss and stomach disability.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability due to new and material evidence. The claims for right knee, left knee, and skin condition disabilities are remanded.

Effective September 8, 2011, a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted. Effective November 21, 2014, special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound level is granted.

The Board denied service connection for left great toe and left shoulder disabilities, as well as numbness of the bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct link to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for numbness of the right and left lower extremities secondary to a back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient evidence addressing the continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right shoulder condition was denied, as the evidence did not show limitation of motion to midway between side and shoulder level.,The Board also remanded the left shoulder service connection claim due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives. The issues are whether his right shoulder degenerative joint disease and bilateral pes planus with plantar fibroma are secondary to his service-connected lumbar DDD.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in medical opinions and a failure to provide requested information on VA examiners' credentials.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the cervical spine, lumbar spine, and upper extremity radiculopathy claims due to the need for retrospective medical opinions. The remaining issues are remanded for readjudication.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously-denied claims for gout of various joints, including right ankle, feet, toes, ankles, knees, hands, and left shoulder, is granted. The appeal includes remanded issues related to these conditions.

Your appeals for service connection have been dismissed because you opted into the modernized review system under the AMA, and your legacy appeal is now closed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for low back pain, right shoulder pain, and neck pain. The Veteran contends that these conditions are related to his in-service duties.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claims for deviated septum, obstructive sleep apnea, acid reflux, heart disability (enlarged heart and cardiomyopathy), restless leg syndrome of the right leg, restless leg syndrome of the left leg, and TDIU are REMANDED.