Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, back, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left shoulder disability was aggravated during service. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on this matter.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for entitlement to increased ratings and service connection for left shoulder disabilities, cervical spine disability, and thoracolumbar spine disability due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development. The issues include lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, shoulder disabilities, peripheral neuropathy, alcohol use disorder, GERD, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include generalized anxiety, is currently rated at 30 percent and denied an increased evaluation.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent for limitation of motion and denied an increased evaluation.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability with recurrent dislocations is currently rated at 20 percent and denied an increased evaluation.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent and denied an increased evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder degenerative arthritis, tinnitus, and PTSD have been granted. The new and material evidence has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5201, which contemplates limitation of motion to shoulder level. The appeal for a higher initial rating has been denied.,A separate 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5202 for the service-connected right shoulder disability from December 15, 2010 through February 22, 2012 has been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to insufficient evidence or need for further evaluation. The issues include nose fracture, sinus problems, right shoulder injury, PTSD, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are presumed to have started during the one-year period following his separation from active service. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of migraine headaches and experienced headaches during service, though no treatment was provided at that time.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's right shoulder disability and service. While he reported discomfort and clicking when raising his arm in service, there are no records indicating any injury or condition related to this issue until after separation from active service.

The Board has found that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and left shoulder disability, to include arthritis. The claims are being remanded for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that it is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's left elbow gout is granted service connection. The Veteran's left shoulder disability, other than the already service-connected left shoulder gout, and sinusitis are denied service connection. Service connection for bilateral eye disability, other than right eye pterygium, is remanded.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as he does not have limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side or in flexion and/or abduction.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent evaluation, but no higher, for neuropathy of the left lower extremity is granted. The Board has also remanded cases regarding service connection for a left shoulder condition and low back condition due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including arthritis and recurrent dislocation, is currently rated at 30 percent since September 28, 2018. The Board has remanded the case for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed for the issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals of gonorrhea, urethral stricture. The petition to reopen claims for service connection for right pinky finger condition and right shoulder condition (to include arthritis) are denied. Service connection for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for the right shoulder condition, to include arthritis, is remanded.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, but the appeal is denied as there is no single disability rated at 100% that independently precludes employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder strain, bilateral hip strain, and left knee degenerative joint disease. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active duty or are otherwise related to in-service injury or disease.,The VA examiners found no nexus between the current disabilities and active duty service.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU rating from October 17, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since this date.