Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for left shoulder strain with degenerative joint disease, neck disorder, and lower back disorder. The Veteran's claims were received on June 18, 2015, and January 28, 2016, respectively.,The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), erectile dysfunction, and cognitive impairment secondary to posttraumatic headaches and PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted, with the Board finding that his service-connected left shoulder disability may have aggravated his right shoulder condition. The Veteran's claim for reopening of a right shoulder condition was also granted.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is related to service and granted.,The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include sinusitis, eye disability, acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression), left shoulder disability, low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and left foot disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection of left knee, left ankle, degenerative arthritis left shoulder, and degenerative arthritis right shoulder conditions. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea is also REMANDED.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for joint pain and fatigue disorder, including chronic fatigue syndrome. The Veteran is presumed exposed to burn pits during his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection for right shoulder, lumbar spine, and right knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent prior to July 28, 2014, and at 30 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder is reopened, and the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for his right knee disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and new evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability will be reconsidered with additional development.

The Veteran's hearing loss, pinguecula (eyes burning), sleep apnea, hypertension, left shoulder disability, allergies, shin splints, knee pain, and neck disability are all remanded for further examination and opinion. The PACT Act is not applicable to these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left shoulder disability and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The case will be returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to incomplete adjudication of his claims, including a lack of consideration of new evidence submitted prior to the expiration of the appeal period. The issues include bilateral knee disability, left shoulder disability, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, IVDS, radiculopathy in both lower extremities, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete compliance with previous instructions and requests for verification of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's CAD and hypertension are found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.,PTSD is not associated with the claimed conditions of tinnitus, migraine headaches, sleep disorder, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, diverticulitis, bilateral eye disability, low back disability, or bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, characterized as a right shoulder strain, inflammation of the rotator cuff, and bursitis. The decision finds that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to her in-service activities.

A 30 percent rating for asthma is granted, separate from a rating for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The appeals seeking reopening of a prior final denial of service connection for memory loss; service connection for fatigue, bilateral hearing loss, and hernia; increased ratings greater than 10 percent each for right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome and residuals of right fifth metatarsal fracture; and an earlier effective date than May 23, 2018, for the grants of service connection for left and right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome, lumbosacral strain, hypertension, tension headaches, right and left shoulder strain with glenohumeral joint instability, and asthma are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for an effective date earlier than November 29, 2017 and increased ratings for right shoulder disabilities and left index finger partial amputation due to new evidence and need for further examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability is rated as 40 percent disabling from January 5, 2017 to November 17, 2020 and 30 percent thereafter. The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for the right shoulder and 30 percent for the left shoulder.,The Veteran's claim for increased ratings was denied for periods beyond January 5, 2017.