Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee and right shoulder disabilities due to their inextricability with the claim for a back disability. The Veteran should undergo examinations to determine if her knee and shoulder conditions are related to her service-connected spine disability or other conditions.

The Board has granted a TDIU for the period prior to May 5, 2015, and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance Benefits for the same period. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities included lumbar spine spondylosis, degenerative disc disease, right cubital tunnel syndrome, left cubital tunnel syndrome, PTSD, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, left elbow degenerative joint disease and tendinosis, a lumbar scar, left second metacarpophalangeal joint post traumatic arthritis, and an abdominal scar. The decision is based on the Veteran's inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has denied service connection for right shoulder, elbow, and bicep muscle disorders due to lack of objective medical evidence indicating current disabilities related to service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5201 for limitation of motion. The evidence does not show that his symptoms warrant a higher rating.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including left leg or knee disability, rectal bleeding, swollen hands and feet, rheumatoid arthritis, multi-site arthritis of the right shoulder, multi-site arthritis of the right hip, multi-site arthritis of the cervical spine (neck), multi-site arthritis of the lumbar spine (low back), right leg nerve damage, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, left kidney disability, gallbladder disability, sinusitis, headaches, appendix disability, discoloration and bacteria on the feet, erectile dysfunction, and eye disability or vision problems. The Board found no current disabilities for several conditions and concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a combined service connected rating in excess of 50 percent, as well as TDIU are being remanded due to deficiencies in the VA examinations.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition, including strain, tendonitis, arthritis, and gout, is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn, and the remaining issues of service connection are being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, finding that there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to active service or any other relevant factor.

The Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal, right shoulder, and bilateral knee disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and his service period.

The Veteran's left and right shoulder glenohumeral joint instability with labral tear are granted as service connected due to the presumption of soundness, as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that these conditions preexisted his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain, arthritis of the bilateral shoulders (also claimed as arthritis of the joints), and cervical strain as secondary to service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's left shoulder degenerative changes are rated at 30 percent effective December 17, 2012.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and an undiagnosed illness. The remaining issues of service connection for a disability manifested by sleep impairment (including sleep apnea and insomnia), right shoulder disability (supraspinatus tendon injury and rotator cuff injury), low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for additional VR&E services and reimbursement for medical school training, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from performing his previously rehabilitated occupation as a personal trainer. The Board also found no evidence of suitability issues related to his employment handicap.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including those for right and left foot hallux valgus, as well as various shoulder disabilities. The TDIU claim was also dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and unclear evidence regarding his claimed disabilities. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, and a comprehensive physical and mental health examination will be conducted to determine if any of the claimed conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder, left hand, and left wrist disabilities. Service connection is also granted for a diagnosable but medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness of unknown etiology manifested as joint swelling.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected left and right shoulder conditions have been denied.,The appeal for entitlement to a TDIU is dismissed as the claim is moot.

The Veteran's representative withdrew all of the Veteran's pending claims before VA, including any claims before the Board. The appeal is dismissed as a result.