Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, ankle, hand, knee and shoulder disabilities. However, due to insufficient evidence regarding current diagnoses and continuity of symptoms since service, these issues are being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for dizziness, left knee disability, and right shoulder disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The cases are being sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's dental condition for treatment purposes is being remanded due to lack of evidence.,Service connection for the skin disability remains denied as there are no compensable conditions found. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if his current symptoms warrant an increased rating.,The claim for left arm scars is inextricably intertwined with the skin disability claim and will also be remanded.,PTSD and depression claims remain pending due to insufficient evidence of service connection or exposure to Gulf War toxins.,Further evaluation is needed to determine if the Veteran's current symptoms meet criteria for a diagnosis of depression.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for joint pain of the ankles, knees, lower legs, shoulders, arms, and wrists due to his failure to report for a necessary examination without good cause. The available evidence did not support a conclusion that these conditions were incurred in or related to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition, which is claimed as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral spondylosis with degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease. The decision notes that an addendum medical opinion is needed due to the inadequacy of the previous Medical Opinion DBQ.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a right shoulder disability prior to December 16, 2015 and from March 1, 2016, as well as entitlement to a separate compensable rating for right shoulder scars. The AOJ is instructed to secure the Veteran's complete VA treatment records, refer the claims file to an examiner for preparation of addendum opinions regarding the nature and severity of the Veteran's right shoulder disability and the nature and etiology of his reported right upper extremity symptoms, and take any other necessary action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than October 3, 2014 for a temporary total evaluation for right shoulder degenerative joint disease. The decision also implicitly denied his claim for a temporary total evaluation for surgery conducted on November 23, 2010.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection is established due to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's TBI, migraine headache disorder, and left foot disability are remanded for further development.

Your appeal for service connection of bilateral knee, shoulder, and foot disabilities has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's right wrist tendonitis, left shoulder strain with DJD, impingement, tendinopathy, and bursitis, and inguinal hernia were all found to be service-connected. The appeals for bilateral hearing loss and a left knee disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted effective July 5, 2017. The claims for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to inadequate VA opinions and missing records. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The left knee strain, TBI residuals, PTSD with TBI, radiculopathy of bilateral lower extremities, and radiculopathy of bilateral upper extremities were not granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's left ankle injury, including Achilles tendonitis and osteoarthritis, is granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral foot conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion. His hearing loss is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current degree of impairment. Service connection for bronchitis is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that it is not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back, neck, left knee, right knee, right hip, left shoulder and right shoulder conditions as secondary to his service-connected ulcerative colitis. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right elbow condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a sleep disturbance, to include sleep apnea, and an increased rating for GERD due to new evidence received within one year of the September 2016 rating decision.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability was denied. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, left knee, and right knee disabilities were also denied. The issues regarding effective dates for left ankle sprains and tympanic membrane tympanosclerosis (right and left) were dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions, as well as for further development regarding other issues. The Veteran will also receive a Statement of the Case (SOC) addressing all pending claims.