Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his right shoulder disability, bilateral foot condition, sleep apnea, anxiety disorder, and left shoulder condition. The issues of rating higher than 20 percent for the right shoulder disability, service connection for a bilateral foot disability, service connection for sleep apnea, service connection for anxiety disorder as a separate condition from PTSD, and service connection for a left shoulder condition are all remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are granted as they are at least as likely as not related to his military service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed knee, ankle, shoulder, and elbow disorders, as well as his cervical spine disorder. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including for right upper jaw disability, low back disability, left shoulder disability, arthritis, diabetes mellitus (due to herbicide exposure), and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The AOJ is instructed to review the additional evidence provided since the last SSOC.

The Board has determined that VA examinations are necessary to assess the current nature, onset and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The Veteran failed to appear for scheduled VA examinations and good cause has been shown.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of complete service treatment records and for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's claims are related to his military duties involving lifting and handling heavy equipment.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from May 10, 2006 to January 21, 2019 and special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) effective September 9, 2008 due to his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and right ankle conditions have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for bilateral foot, lower back, and right knee conditions are remanded.

For the appeal period prior to September 23, 2015, the Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 10 percent due to limited motion. For the appeal period from September 23, 2015, a higher rating of 20 percent is denied.,The evidence does not support ratings in excess of 10 and 20 percent for the Veteran's right shoulder disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disability due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. However, the case is remanded as further medical examination is needed to determine if the current right shoulder disability is related to military service or directly caused by or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left shoulder disability and related paresthesias are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The case must be further developed with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 13, 2017, for the grant of service connection for tension headaches is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for major depressive disorder is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bursitis is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tension headaches is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical strain is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left rotator cuff impingement syndrome is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 13, 2017, for the grant of a 20 percent rating for left rotator cuff impingement syndrome is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis with strain of the lumbar spine is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 13, 2017, for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 13, 2017, for the assignment of a separate compensable rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

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

The Board dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions, including shoulder disorders, spine disorders, peripheral neuropathies, and psychiatric disorders, due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The decision is based on the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates and ratings related to his right shoulder scars, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and pituitary gland tumor are being remanded due to the addition of relevant evidence since the last statement of the case.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for right shoulder strain has been remanded, and the issue of entitlement to TDIU remains on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a scalp disorder/condition, left-hand disability, and right shoulder disability due to the lack of evidence showing current disabilities or links to service.,The Veteran's claim for skin disability of bilateral feet was remanded as the VA examinations were inadequate.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the VA examination and requests for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his service-connected left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities as well as his entitlement to service connection for right and left knee instability. The effective date assigned was March 31, 2017, which is the date of the Veteran's intent to file a claim.

The Veteran's appeals for otitis externa and urinary frequency were dismissed. The Veteran's claims for a left shoulder disability, a left trapezoid disability, and a testicular disability are granted.