Shoulder Board decisions

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 20% disability rating for right shoulder tendonitis, finding no evidence of a factually ascertainable increase in the severity of the condition within one year prior to the Veteran's June 19, 2018 claim.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from July 16, 2013. All service connection claims are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further action due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for the left shoulder condition and temporary total rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disability as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no medical evidence supporting this theory.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and a left shoulder disability, finding no evidence of in-service injury or chronic condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected left shoulder and left humerus disabilities due to inadequate medical evidence regarding functional loss caused by pain.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and he did not meet the eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected death pension benefits or DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for left shoulder strain and costochondritis have been granted, with the right thigh strain evaluation being remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the initial rating for residuals of a dislocated left shoulder, and the Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and a right shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran did not have a verified in-service stressor or injury leading to these conditions.

An effective date of October 26, 2011 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded.

Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, fatigue, left shoulder pain, right wrist pain, esophageal reflux, sleep disturbances, headaches, lung condition, hypertension, and heart condition are denied. A rating in excess of 10 percent for a painful scar on the left knee and a compensable rating for non-painful scars on the left knee is granted.

The Board dismissed the issue regarding the propriety of reducing ratings for bilateral wrist CTS. The Veteran's right shoulder condition was denied an increased rating, as there is no evidence of limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side. The Veteran's right ankle DJD was also denied an increased rating due to lack of marked limitation of motion. The Veteran's right wrist CTS was denied increased ratings since April 1, 2014, and November 1, 2014.,The Board found no evidence of marked limitation of motion in the ankle or shoulder that would warrant a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The appellant's appeals for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities have been withdrawn and are dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, secondary to sleep apnea, and a dental, oral, and gum condition (including numbness of the chin and lip).

The Veteran's appeals for temporary total ratings based on surgery necessitating convalescence for his service-connected left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as the appeal for a TDIU prior to November 6, 2020, have all been dismissed due to withdrawals by the Veteran or his attorney.

The Veteran's claim for high cholesterol is denied as it does not represent a disability for which service connection can be granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has been remanded on multiple issues due to inadequate opinions and need for updated examinations considering toxic exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, as well as to consider alternate theories of entitlement. Service connection is denied for myofascial pain syndrome due to lack of specific symptoms not already compensated. The issue of service connection for left hip trochanteric pain syndrome is also remanded with a request for an addendum opinion considering the Veteran's in-service imaging and his reports of left hip pain during service. Right shoulder disability and skin conditions are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for Left Shoulder Disorder, GERD, and Hepatitis C due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings higher than 10 percent each for right and left knee strain require additional medical examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is dismissed as the RO granted it in a March 2021 rating decision. The remaining claims of service connection for right shoulder and left knee disabilities are remanded.