Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete verification of periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). The Veteran's service treatment records from his Reserve service are also needed.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected conditions, including onychomycosis of the toenails, left shoulder strain, lumbar strain, and left tibial plateau fracture. The VA is directed to schedule examinations for these conditions and provide a thorough review of the medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder arthritis is related to his service-connected cervical spine disability. Additional evidence and a new medical opinion are needed.

The Veteran's onychomycosis of the left and right hands were granted service connection as they began during active service.,Service connection was also granted for a low back disability, but the issue of service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, characterized as right acromio ossification center pain (right shoulder disability), is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board has denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left shoulder disability is remanded. The TDIU on an extraschedular basis is also remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 40 percent prior to March 18, 2016 and 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy was initially rated at 20 percent from October 10, 2018 to December 15, 2019 and is now rated at 50 percent.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been found to be more than just limited motion of the arm midway between side and shoulder level.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability did not have its onset in service and is not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeals for carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper extremity; carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper extremity; and dental disorder have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The Veteran's appeals for gastroesophageal disorder (including Barrett's disease and acid reflux); back disorder; bilateral foot disorder (Morton's neuroma, metatarsalgia, and hallux rigidus); and right shoulder disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left and right shoulder impingement syndrome, as well as service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The remand is due to insufficient VA examinations in the original decision.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability and right shoulder disability are granted service connection. The claim for OSA is remanded as the VA examiner did not provide a secondary service connection opinion related to his now service-connected bilateral shoulder condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his thoracolumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, have rendered him unemployable since October 15, 2019. A TDIU rating is granted from that date.

The Board has decided that the claims for service connection for bilateral upper and lower arm conditions need to be remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran's request for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing VA treatment records and a need to reschedule VA examinations. The issues include rating increases, service connection, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder melanoma due to conflicting statements from a previous VA examiner and the need to distinguish sun exposure during service versus sun exposure before and after service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions in the February 2020 VA examination. The case is being returned for new addendum opinions addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder, stomach, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent from May 31, 2018. He also received a grant of service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy with an effective date of February 25, 2019, and a scar, status post cervical fusion with an effective date of December 28, 2016.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral shoulder and hip disabilities.,The Veteran is also being asked to provide information about any non-VA medical providers he has seen for symptoms related to his spine, shoulders, hips, knees, and neurological disabilities.

The claim for service connection of a right shoulder disorder is reopened, and the appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the condition.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has remanded for further examination to determine if a higher rating is warranted.