Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right and left shoulders, finding that there is evidence linking these disabilities to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination. The case will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 30 percent each, with no higher ratings granted. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of severe painful motion or weakness in either knee.,Service connection has been established for bilateral shoulder disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's increased rating claim for left shoulder strain, and his TDIU rating claim remains pending.

The Veteran has submitted new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for low back, upper back, bilateral hip, and bilateral shoulder conditions. The Board will now review the merits of these reopened claims.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 40 percent since November 6, 2013 due to ankylosis of the scapulohumeral articulation. The previous rating prior to this date was 30 percent for limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claims for cardiac, left shoulder, right hand, and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records and medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, and thus the issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right shoulder disability prior to May 21, 2014, and greater than 20 percent since then is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for a reduction in his disability evaluation from 60 percent to 30 percent was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show material improvement in his coronary artery disease, which would have been reasonably certain to be maintained under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The issues of entitlement to initial compensable disability ratings and service connection are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent since February 1, 2009. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted prior to December 9, 2008, and grants a 30 percent rating from February 1, 2009, forward.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, and back disability have been denied. The Board has ordered a remand due to the Veteran not receiving proper notice of his scheduled videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA treatment records and scheduling him for a hearing and an examination. The issues include reopening his claim for service connection for a left shoulder condition, as well as claims for bilateral eye condition, left hand condition, increased rating for left elbow condition, and right shoulder/arm condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing medical records and a need to obtain updated VA treatment records, as well as any non-VA health care providers' records.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, characterized by acromioclavicular separation and degenerative joint disease with a partial rotator cuff tear, has not met the criteria for a higher rating than 20 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, TBI residuals, migraines, vertigo, cervical disorder, and shoulder disorders have been granted. However, the claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD remains denied.

The Veteran's skin cancer is related to his active military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been rated at 30 percent since November 27, 2007. The claim for an increased rating is denied as the evidence does not show that his symptoms warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, right sciatica, left shoulder joint disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and IBS have been granted increased ratings. The effective dates for these increases are not specified.

The Board previously granted an increased schedular rating of 20 percent for service-connected right shoulder dislocation prior to September 19, 2013. The Veteran is now seeking an extraschedular evaluation for his right shoulder dislocation.