Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder disorder is related to his active service or if it was caused by his service-connected PTSD. The claim will be reviewed again with additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's left shoulder disability and acquired psychiatric disorder need additional medical opinions, and outstanding records should be obtained.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome is rated at 20 percent, and his TDIU claim for service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various hip, knee, shoulder, and spine conditions are being remanded due to the failure of VA to schedule examinations as instructed in a previous Board decision.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome and increased ratings for PTSD, IVDS, and scars associated with IVDS due to his withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The Board has remanded the remaining issues for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient etiology opinions regarding the Veteran's right shoulder condition and its pre-service status.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are deemed to be of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU for the period prior to April 13, 2018. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for chest pain and heart attacks, and neurological conditions, including numb and cold hands and feet, and neurological problems of the arms and shoulders.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease rating was reduced from 40% to 20%, effective June 1, 2017. The reduction is being remanded as it may have been improper.,The Veteran’s lumbar spine degenerative disc disease has now been restored to a 40% rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's left knee disability, whether his hypertension is related to service, and whether his bilateral shoulder disabilities are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his right shoulder disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on statutory housebound status as he does not have a single service-connected disability rated totally disabling, to include consideration of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and conflicting opinions regarding his claimed disabilities. The VA is instructed to obtain all relevant records, including SSA records, and provide additional medical opinions on the origin of his heart disabilities and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may impact other claims.

The Veteran's sensory deficits of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities are currently rated as 20 percent disabling, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.,The Veteran's left shoulder dislocation and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (L5/S1) are also currently rated as 20 percent disabling, with no indication of any other service-connected conditions or exposure basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions in the record regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and military service.

The Board dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's claims, including those for PTSD and other conditions, due to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and for an increased rating for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee with osteoarthritis prior to May 14, 2013. The TDIU claim was also remanded due to incomplete worker's compensation records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder strain due to insufficient evidence from the last VA examination. The Veteran will need to undergo another examination to determine the current severity of his disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and increased rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since September 2, 2008.