Shoulder Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his combined disability ratings do not meet the criteria for TDIU and there is insufficient evidence of record regarding his employment status.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board denied compensation for right wrist tendonitis and left shoulder rotator cuff tear, finding that the disabilities were not caused by VA medical care.

The Board has dismissed the issue of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen a claim for service connection for sleep apnea. The claims for shin splints, right ankle, left ankle, right wrist, left wrist, right shoulder, and low back disabilities have been reopened due to receipt of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis as these conditions are found to have started during the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be service-connected, with an effective date of March 21, 2017.,An earlier effective date of March 21, 2017 for the 40 percent rating assigned for lumbosacral strain and discogenic disease is granted.,Service connection for a gastrointestinal disability (claimed as diverticulosis) is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a prostate disability (claimed as prostate cancer) is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, heart condition, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are all remanded due to lack of evidence regarding their relationships with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for osteopenia is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder condition is secondary to his service-connected left shoulder and spine conditions. The examiner relied on outdated findings and did not consider the Veteran’s reports of increased wear and tear on the right shoulder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for his right shoulder, cervical spine, and right hand conditions. The Board found that these conditions are not related to any incident or injury during active service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as his back disability. The main reasons for remand include obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the severity of the left knee disability, determining whether the left shoulder disability is proximately due or aggravated by a service-connected condition, and addressing the issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to December 28, 2016.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, which was rated at 50 percent since February 21, 2012, has not met the criteria for a higher rating during any of the periods under consideration. The highest possible rating is 50 percent, as per Diagnostic Code (DC) 5051.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, right knee disorder, hypertension, and left ear hearing loss due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent since April 6, 2011. The appeal for a higher rating has been denied.,Prior to June 1, 2011, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. After that date, he was granted TDIU again.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of left and right shoulder disorders, as well as higher ratings for cervical spine degenerative joint disease and lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal was dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for neck, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right hand disability.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided in connection with these claims were inadequate for adjudication purposes as they did not provide a complete rationale for their opinions, did not consider the Veteran's lay statements and heavily relied on the absence of contemporaneous medical evidence to support negative nexus opinions.,Therefore, the Board finds that remand is necessary so that the RO can obtain new medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran’s disabilities are directly related to his service or otherwise proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grants of service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities is denied as there was no prior formal or informal claim filed before April 29, 2013.

The Veteran's right eye chalazion is not service-connected and a compensable rating is denied.,The issues of service connection for left shoulder disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, type II diabetes, and erectile dysfunction are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims at the hearing.,Service connection for a right shoulder disability is granted.,Issues regarding increased ratings for right knee and low back disabilities, and service connection for hypertension are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including folliculitis and a left shoulder disability, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritic conditions of his upper extremities due to a lack of medical evidence supporting the Veteran's theories of entitlement. The Veteran was provided with release forms and requested records, but did not provide additional information.