Shoulder decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, and tendonitis disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's GERD was found to have its onset during his active service and is therefore granted service connection. The right shoulder disability and neck disability are currently under consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cervical spondylosis, bilateral upper extremity disabilities, post-operative gynecomastia, tinnitus, rotator cuff tendinopathy of the left shoulder, rotator cuff tendinopathy of the right shoulder, and bilateral plantar fasciitis, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is at least 70 percent, with one disability rated as 40 percent disabling. The schedular percentage requirements for TDIU are met.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy and cervical spine disorder, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's period of active duty. Service connection for bilateral shoulder disorder is denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his psychiatric disability and left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the severity and extent of his service-connected dermatitis/eczema and right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation due to treatment of her service-connected right shoulder disability is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for such an evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder and left knee disabilities are related to his service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability did not originate during active service or within one year of discharge from service, and is not caused by or otherwise related to any incident in active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the issues of arthritis of the bilateral knees, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, an eye condition, residuals of a shoulder injury, and fibromyalgia. The issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for pes planus is also dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board videoconference hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions are under consideration.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including degenerative joint disease of the acromioclavicular joint and strain, is service-connected as secondary to his cervical spine injury. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the cervical spine disability remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his left shoulder disability and any current right arm or shoulder and neck disorders. The issues on appeal are whether these conditions are related to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of his claim for a general disorder of the joints and muscles. The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen his left knee disability claim, but denied all other claims.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and left shoulder disorder have been reopened, but further development is needed to determine the current nature and extent of his disabilities.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) remains pending as additional information may be required.

The Board found no evidence to warrant an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent at any point during the appeal period for the Veteran's left shoulder disability. The current evaluation is based on pain and limitations of motion caused by the condition, which are already encompassed within the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral shoulder, bilateral foot, and right heel disabilities are not related to his active service. The evidence does not show an in-service injury or disease, nor is there any competent medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected burn scars have been rated based on the revised criteria effective October 23, 2008. For the entire rating period, his deep and nonlinear scar of the right biceps measured 11 x 21 cm with moderate underlying soft tissue loss; he had painful scars on his right biceps and triceps; and superficial and nonlinear burn scars covered a total area of 605 square cm. The Veteran's service-connected scars have not increased in severity over the course of the appeal, warranting denial of higher ratings.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities are found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claims for these conditions have been granted.