Shoulder decisions — 2014

The Veteran's low back disability is not shown to be related to his service, and the Board finds that he has not provided credible evidence of continuity of symptoms since service. The right shoulder disability claim requires a medical opinion regarding its relationship to service. Increased ratings for residuals of a right distal fibula fracture, right hip strain, and right knee strain are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and TDIU were dismissed as they seek to establish an effective date in a manner not authorized by law.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a new examination and additional development of his medical records. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his service-connected low back disability and right shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted. Her left shoulder dislocation, status-post surgery, is rated at 20 percent disabling; her median nerve entrapment of the right upper extremity is rated at 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hemorrhoids, left shoulder impingement syndrome, urinary incontinence, posterior fistulotomy, status post hemangioma liver with scars, diverticulitis, and retinaculum removal are all granted. The Veteran is assigned a noncompensable (0%) disability evaluation for her service-connected lipoma removal scar.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA Aid and Attendance/Housebound examination to determine if the Veteran's requirement for regular aid and attendance is related to his service-connected disability. The appeal will be further adjudicated after this examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right shoulder condition is related to his service, and grants service connection for a right shoulder condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder and the increased rating claims regarding the knees. The Board also found that there is sufficient evidence to support service connection for left hip osteoarthritis and lumbar spine osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues include increased ratings for shell fragment wounds, median neuropathy, and ulnar neuropathy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, arthritis, a bilateral foot disability, and peripheral neuropathy. The appeals are based on direct evidence of these conditions without any presumption or secondary relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a rating in excess of this amount is not warranted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disability and left hand disability, finding that there is no evidence linking these disabilities to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected right elbow and right shoulder disabilities, as well as a VA audiological examination to determine if he has bilateral hearing loss. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of aid and attendance, qualifying for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance. He is also entitled to a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing due to his permanent and total disability resulting from service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for various disorders are granted, with the exception of his claim for a right ankle disorder which is secondary to service-connected peripheral neuropathy. The decision also includes reopening and granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The TDIU claim will be adjudicated after the left knee and right shoulder disability ratings are addressed.

The Board has determined that the October 15, 2009, denial of eligibility for a fee basis medical identification card was improper and restored the Veteran's entitlement to such.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for right shoulder arthritis, which he contends was caused by an injury in service. The VA examiner only addressed the secondary nature of the disability to a left ankle disability and did not address whether the current condition had onset or causation in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the right shoulder with a scar, claimed as a right arm condition, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of aggravation during service and there is no probative evidence indicating arthritis onset within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations or service connection.