Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and records. The Veteran is required to undergo examinations and obtain medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has found new and material evidence to support these claims. The cases are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing their request. The claim for a higher rating for left shoulder disability is remanded, and the claim for cervical spine disability is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to his service-connected left shoulder disability and if it was caused or aggravated by any of his musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and evaluations are needed to determine the nature, etiology, and severity of the Veteran's right shoulder disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and left hand DJD. The issues of service connection for these conditions have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold requirement for a schedular TDIU. However, due to his non-service-connected stroke and Alzheimer’s/dementia diagnoses, he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that remand for referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration is warranted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disorder and thoracic spine disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as related to in-service stressors. The Veteran's arthritis claim, including back, arm and shoulder conditions, is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded multiple claims for further development due to the Veteran not being properly notified of VA examinations related to his service connection and increased disability rating claims.

The Veteran's claim for a left ankle disability is denied. The Veteran's service-connected status post open reduction and internal fixation for left clavicle with residual left shoulder decreased mobility has been granted an initial rating of 30 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chondromalacia of the left knee and status post right knee arthroscopic surgery with debridement are denied.

The Veteran's claim for vision problems was reopened due to the submission of new medical and lay evidence. The claims for left shoulder, left ankle, skin cancer, and right wrist disability are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis and lumbar strain conditions due to a lack of recent VA examination results.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected right shoulder disability and left calcaneal spurs are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, as well as obtaining all pertinent records.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition, but denied service connection for cervical, right knee, left shoulder, and right hip conditions. The decision also remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee degenerative arthritis, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist; chronic lumbar strain; and left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with chronic lumbar strain are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's TBI residuals are rated at 30 percent, and service connection for a psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and depression) is granted. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, lumbar DDD, cervical DDD, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right eye vision loss are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities, as well as the TDIU claim due to service-connected disabilities. The remand requires that a VA examiner provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's current shoulder and knee conditions are aggravated by his right ankle disability or related to vaccinations in service.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for a left shoulder disability and TDIU on an extraschedular basis. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to follow and maintain a substantially-gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding his anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted as service-connected. The left foot disability issue is remanded for further development.