Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately compensates for his symptoms. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's current left shoulder disability, including degenerative joint disease, rotator cuff tear, and glenoid labrum tear, is related to his military service. The Board finds that the evidence supports granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The claims for left knee chondromalacia with arthritis, right knee chondromalacia with arthritis, and right shoulder arthritis are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 30 percent, which does not meet the schedular criteria for assignment of a TDIU. The evidence does not indicate that his service-connected disabilities alone prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied an increased rating for the appellant's service-connected right shoulder disability, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues include reopening his service connection claim for right shoulder injury and seeking increased ratings for left shoulder disability, weight gain, degenerative disc disease with low back pain, neck injury, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's left shoulder acromioplasty residuals are currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 30 percent is warranted based on functional loss.

The Veteran's initial increased disability rating for left shoulder disability is denied, and a 30 percent rating is granted from January 16, 2013. The issue of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis, left knee, remains pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and cervical lymph node cancer, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left shoulder disabilities, including osteoarthritis (OA) and degenerative joint disease (DJD), are not related to his service or any incident therein. The evidence does not show these conditions to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service.

The Board has granted a temporary total rating for convalescence from February 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010 following surgery on December 17, 2009 for left axilla and perineal excision of hidradenitis. The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder rotator cuff syndrome is also addressed.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral shoulder osteoarthritis, cervical radiculopathy, heart condition (presumably ischemic heart disease), eczema, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA medical opinions provided less than 50% probability for a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis and peripheral neuropathy are related to his service, with doubt resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of chronic bronchitis, residuals of a left fifth finger dislocation, or right ring finger disorder. Service connection was also denied for right ankle and foot disorders, as well as right shoulder and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to a service-connected disability. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board finds that the appellant's right shoulder disability, including arthritis and rotator cuff tendinopathy, was not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

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

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or TDIU based on his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain, PTSD, and right wrist were withdrawn by the Veteran during his hearing.