BVA Case 21-1135: Psychiatric

The Board noted that the August 2019 examiner considered the [v]eteran's contentions that he injured his neck while in service and that he still had symptoms.

But the Board denied service connection for a right rotator cuff disability,relying on the April 2015 examiner's opinion that the right shoulder disability was a normal age-related finding and that medical literature did not support one shoulder causing pathology in another shoulder.

The Board found that the most probative evidence did not indicate that his neck disability or cervical radiculopathy were incurred in service or related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found the veteran competent to report his symptoms,but not competent to opine on the nature and etiology of his medical conditions.

The Board found the VA examinations adequate because the examiners saw the Veteran in person,reviewed his file, performed all required testing,and offered opinions supported by explanations.

Calabrese argues that the Board erred in relying on an inadequate April 2019 right shoulder examination because the examiner did not opine on whether his right rotator cuff disability was aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability.

Calabrese argues that the Board erred in relying on an inadequate April 2019 headaches examination because the examiner's findings were internally inconsistent and the examiner noted his headache complaints but failed to explain why he did not have a headache disability.

Concerning IBS,he argues that the Board erred in relying on an inadequate April 2019 intestinal conditions examination because the examiner failed to explain why he did not have a current diagnosis of an intestinal condition.