Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's left foot disability was granted a 30 percent rating from July 26, 2012 to August 17, 2014 and a separate 30 percent rating effective from August 18, 2014.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability was granted a 30 percent rating for limitation of motion at shoulder level. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for acromioclavicular joint separation with malunion of the clavicle or scapula effective from September 30, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to issues related to the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including a need for new VA examinations and retrospective medical opinions.

The Veteran's right shoulder scar was granted a 10 percent disability rating from December 21, 2016 onwards. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was also granted.,A compensable rating for the right shoulder scar prior to December 21, 2016 was denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for right shoulder disability and left shoulder disability are denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and military service. Specifically, a VA examination is needed to determine if his cervical spine disability or right shoulder pain are related to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including TBI, low back disability, knee and shoulder disabilities, nerve damage of upper extremities, urticaria, allergic rhinitis, chronic diarrhea, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran will need new examinations for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining updated treatment records from VA clinics and facilities where the Veteran received care between 2010 and 2019.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was granted a 50 percent rating from October 1, 2018 for status post total left shoulder replacement. He previously had a temporary 100 percent rating and then a 30 percent rating effective October 21, 2016.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left shoulder disability and right elbow condition are not service-connected. The case is being remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder and left hip disabilities are related to his service-connected seronegative arthritis, but further examination is needed to determine if they were caused or aggravated by this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection is denied for thoracolumbar spine disability, disability manifest by joint pain (shoulders and knees), and respiratory disability (lung problems) including pulmonary coccidioidomycosis.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a right shoulder dislocation disorder is granted. The Board has also remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain, have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since April 1, 2014. As a result, the Board has granted a TDIU beginning on that date.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims for further development, including those related to the Veteran's right shoulder, psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, heart disorder, radiculopathy of the lower and upper extremities. The left shoulder disability claim remains denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5201.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his secondary service connection claims for various disabilities, including cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, left shoulder, bilateral hips, bilateral thighs, partial loss of use lower extremities, right upper extremity radicular pain, and femoral radicular pain.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims of service connection for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine, left knee disability, and left shoulder disability.,These issues are now being remanded to obtain additional evidence and opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and extraschedular considerations, as well as DIC benefits. The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and postoperative left shoulder scar disability are currently rated based on their service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip, shoulder, and knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing their etiology. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral spine disability, bilateral foot disability (pes planus), and recurrent left shoulder disability due to inadequate examinations. Further evaluations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee disability.