Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for chemical poisoning, anxiety and PTSD, heart attack and a heart stent, hypertension, prostate cancer, low back injury with posttraumatic degenerative changes, left lower extremity radiculopathy, irritant dermatitis, gout in the right foot, and left shoulder acromioclavicular separation status post-operative. The Veteran is not service-connected for any of these conditions.

The Board has denied an increase in the Veteran's right shoulder disability rating to more than 20 percent, effective November 29, 2018. The issue of service connection for GERD is remanded due to a lack of compliance with prior instructions.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability and entitlement to TDIU prior to September 15, 2016 were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating or TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for rhabdomyolysis and remanded other claims due to new evidence received. The Veteran is also being scheduled for VA examinations related to his neck, right leg, shoulder, upper extremities, depression, gastrointestinal issues, lumbosacral strain, scar, and SMC.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's current left shoulder strain is related to his in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his right shoulder disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase to a rating higher than 20 percent prior to October 24, 2019 and against any increase more than 30 percent after October 24, 2019.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a Decision Review Officer (DRO) hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and eye conditions, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since June 25, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is granted, and he is now rated at 100 percent. The appeal to reopen the left shoulder disability claim is dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, sinusitis, chronic dry eye disability, right wrist and left wrist disabilities, right hand tendonitis, left hand tendonitis, left foot disability, right great toe bunion, left foot bunions, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder condition, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, a right shoulder disability, and skin cancer due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and hip disabilities due to potential issues with causation.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated by his active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cervical spine disability. The claim for right knee disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence. Service connection was denied for left shoulder disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is service connected. The right knee pain issue was remanded for further evaluation due to potential secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral ankle, right ankle, left shoulder, and right hand disabilities as the evidence did not show they were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for bilateral shoulder, knee, wrist and hip disorders were denied. The right elbow arthritis claim was granted. The fibromyalgia claim was denied. The depressive disorder secondary to service-connected bilateral club foot with arthritis and pes planus was granted.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from August 23, 2012 to August 11, 2020 and schedular TDIU from August 12, 2020 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or maintaining gainful employment.

Service connection is granted for left shoulder degenerative joint disease, left hand arthritis, and tinnitus. A 20 percent initial rating is assigned for painful scars of the left palm and left thigh.