Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right and left shoulder disabilities, right and left hip disabilities, and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, DDD of the cervical spine with spasms, and DDD of the lumbosacral spine due to a lack of detailed range of motion findings and functional loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of entitlement to initial evaluations in excess of 20 percent and 10 percent for left shoulder DJD with probable rotator cuff tear, claimed as bilateral arms, and right shoulder DJD with remote dislocation of AC, claimed as bilateral arms. This includes obtaining outstanding treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

Service connection for a right shoulder disability and residuals of a fracture of the right cheek bone is denied.,A compensable rating (10%) for sensory deficit of distal tip of the right ring finger prior to January 28, 2016, is denied. A rating in excess of 10% for this condition beginning on January 28, 2016, is also denied.,A noncompensable rating for residuals of a fracture of the left zygoma with metal plate insertion remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic sinus disability, arthritis of the left shoulder, bilateral elbows, right wrist, fingers, left ankle, and bilateral feet have been reopened.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left eye disability has not met the criteria to be reopened.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a right hip disability, cervical spine disability, back disability, and right shoulder disability. The issues are inextricably intertwined due to the potential impact on the right hip claim. A menstrual disability claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 6, 2011 for the grant of a 40 percent rating for residuals, fracture left navicular bone is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not show that his service-connected residuals, fracture left navicular bone caused or aggravated his left upper extremity disorders.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability and lymphedema were not granted service connection.,A rating of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease was granted from February 24, 2016 onwards.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine disorders, but the right shoulder disorder claim is remanded due to lack of VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder, denied increased ratings for right knee degenerative joint disease and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, denied effective dates prior to May 22, 2015 for service connection of right ankle arthritis and left leg pain (rheumatoid radiculopathy), and remanded issues related to depression, service connection for left ankle arthritis, and effective dates prior to August 29, 2014 for increased rating of right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Board also denied an effective date prior to January 26, 2018 for a 50 percent disability rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and degenerative changes of the left great toe, denied service connection for left ankle arthritis, and remanded issues related to depression.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, nerve damage, hypertension, headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, a bilateral eye disability; and a right shoulder disability have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including disc disease, is denied because the condition did not manifest during service and there is no evidence of an in-service injury or event. The current condition is related to post-service injuries.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected surgical scars, lumbar spine disability, and left shoulder disability are not rated appropriately. The claims for increased ratings are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tear and glenohumeral arthrosis, finding it related to an in-service injury. The other issues are remanded.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,There is no evidence of current left lower extremity radiculopathy or right lower extremity radiculopathy, and the claim for these conditions is denied.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition due to undiagnosed illness is not granted as there are no objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability in his right shoulder.,The Veteran's current rating for insomnia remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for neck condition, middle shoulder neurological disability, and right ankle condition have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for back condition has been granted with new evidence submitted since the June 1988 rating decision. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and bipolar disorder) has also been reopened due to new evidence, but a final determination on this issue is pending.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent, and a separate rating of 20 percent for recurrent dislocation prior to May 25, 2017, has been granted. The appeals for increased ratings are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder and hip disabilities, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability.,There is no evidence showing any shoulder or hip conditions during service. The Veteran's current shoulder and hip disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a connection between her current condition and military service.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, finding that his assertions of in-service onset were credible and casting doubt on any medical opinions to the contrary. The other issues are remanded.