Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist and elbow disorders have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The claim for a right shoulder disorder has been reopened and granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ankle fracture, left shoulder dislocations with mild arthritis, and impairment of the left humerus were denied. The Board found that the current assigned ratings adequately reflected the severity of the disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, intestinal problems, joint pain, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, lower back condition, and residuals of a rib injury on the left side.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. His left shoulder condition and bilateral foot disability are denied as not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder condition due to lack of medical records and an addendum opinion is needed.

The Board has granted a disability evaluation of 30 percent for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, but remanded the issue of entitlement to a temporary total rating following left shoulder surgery.

The Board has remanded the claims for left shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder recurrent dislocation-scapulohumeral joint, and left ulnar neuropathy due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran will need a VA examination to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal seeking to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability is dismissed.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 80 percent for grand mal seizure disorder is denied.,Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a left (minor) shoulder strain, impingement syndrome and labral tear with superior labral anterior-posterior lesion is denied.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, acne with residual scarring, sleep apnea, tension headaches, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, left knee degenerative joint disease, right shoulder tendinitis, lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis, chronic right ankle strain, bilateral pes planus, right great toe injury, hypertension, left and right knee instability, and traumatic brain injury, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since June 11, 2012.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is remanded for further review.,The Veteran's sleep disorder claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, left shoulder, and left hip disabilities due to insufficient reasons and bases in the September 2019 decision. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right shoulder disability and temporary total rating based on treatment for a service-connected disability requiring hospitalization. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current right shoulder disorder to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left shoulder disorder, residuals of prostate cancer (due to exposure to herbicide agents), and erectile dysfunction due to prostate cancer. The reasons are that further development is needed to obtain potentially relevant outstanding service personnel records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, but his right ankle disability does not warrant an extraschedular rating. The claims for sleep apnea and entitlement to an extraschedular TDIU are remanded.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disorder, finding that his symptoms more nearly approximate motion limited to 25 degrees from the side or less during flares.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to in-service noise exposure. The Board also found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is related to his active duty service.,Service connection was granted for a left shoulder disability, including pinched nerve, supraspinatus tear, and osteoarthritis, based on the Veteran's report of carrying heavy packs during military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding service connection for PTSD, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and increased rating for right shoulder strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantial gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. The case is REMANDED for further action.