Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals from a head injury, headache disorder, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, and bilateral knee disorder. The evidence does not support finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for shin splints, left shoulder tendonitis, left elbow DJD with scar, right hip bursitis with snapping syndrome, and right hip limitation of flexion are all remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for additional development.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent from January 1, 2016 to January 30, 2018 and denied for a higher rating. From January 31, 2018, the Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 30 percent and also denied for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to June 12, 2014 was denied as he did not meet the criteria of being precluded from obtaining and maintaining any form of gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records.

The Veteran's initial rating for hypothyroidism was denied as the evidence did not show fatigability, constipation, or mental sluggishness.,Service connection for left shoulder disability, broken right great toe, and broken right thumb were all denied due to lack of probative medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability and an increased rating for his left shoulder disability. The Board found that there was no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's right wrist disability and his service-connected left shoulder disability, and also determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability did not warrant a higher than 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the VA-contracted examiner's opinions are inadequate and remanded for further development, including obtaining new etiology opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 20 percent for his right and left shoulder disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the cases of tinnitus, bilateral shoulder condition, bilateral hand and finger condition, and bilateral foot condition for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified psychotic disorder has been granted a 100% rating, effective from the date of the decision.,The Veteran is also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated treatment records, request missing VA outpatient records, and schedule new medical examinations or obtain medical nexus opinions.

The Veteran's initial rating for unspecified depressive disorder was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to June 19, 2019 and in excess of 50 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's back disability was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder condition and cervical spine condition are aggravated by his service-connected back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye disability, bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability due to inadequate examination reports and lack of evidence regarding exposure to hazardous noise during service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with notification of a VA examination and requests for additional private treatment records. The Veteran's right shoulder disability rating is being reconsidered, including consideration under Diagnostic Code 5202.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from May 7, 2014 to July 30, 2014 and an extraschedular TDIU from May 13, 2013 to May 6, 2014 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current left shoulder disability and his inservice injury. The case will be returned for a new VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, ventral hernia, urethritis, and hemorrhoids as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.,Service records show some complaints of back pain in 1965 and shoulder pain in 1965. However, no chronic disabilities were noted on separation examination.