Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus and right shoulder degenerative arthritis. The decision also found that the condition was not related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 11, 2003, for a rating of 30 percent for right shoulder disability is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disorder, low back disorder, and left knee disorder due to lack of medical evidence addressing the etiology of his current symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed for the right knee rating claim. The PTSD and left knee disorder claims are granted, but the right shoulder injury claim is denied. The Board has reopened the service connection claims for PTSD and left knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his left shoulder disability, including any orthopedic, neurological and muscle impairment.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, leaving no issues to be decided by the Board.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder arthritis, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left shoulder tendonitis and left elbow bursitis are being remanded due to the need for new examinations based on increased severity of his disabilities since the last VA examination in July 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for a new one.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating claims have been dismissed due to the grant of service connection in April 2020. The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee arthroplasty and scar has been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board finds that his conditions do not warrant higher ratings for PTSD, lumbar spine DDD, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, knee DJD, shoulder DJD, ankle DJD, elbow tendonitis, or foot plantar fasciitis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability due to lack of evidence showing a link between his current condition and active service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, bowel and bladder dysfunction, hip impairments, ankle strains, flat feet, knee limitations of flexion, shoulder disability, elbow bursitis/limitation of flexion, and tension headaches have been granted. The Veteran also received increased ratings for his right hip impairment and limitation of extension as well as a 60 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability effective November 13, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete compliance with prior remand instructions and the need for additional medical opinions. The claims are related to bilateral shoulder disability, cervical spine disability (secondary to knee disability), and lumbar spine disability (secondary to knee disability).

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, and reopened the claims for left hip pain and left ankle pain. The claim for right shoulder pain was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left elbow disability. The cases of right shoulder, left shoulder, and left hip disabilities are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, and sleep apnea. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service or secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for neck disability and remanded the claims of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of cervical spine surgery and service connection for right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating. The cervical spine disability appeal is dismissed.