Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Veteran has been granted service connection for multiple undiagnosed illnesses affecting various joints and the right and left hands, knees, shoulders, and wrists.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on their occurrence during active duty in the Southwest Asia Theater of operations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination by a vocational specialist to assess his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities. The claim will also be referred to the Director of Compensation for consideration of an extra-schedular TDIU if he does not meet the scheduler criteria.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated at 30 percent since April 1, 2013. The most recent VA examination found abduction limited to no worse than 45 degrees, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 5200.

The Veteran's left shoulder trapezius strain is manifested by pain and limitation of motion, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service connection claims, including obtaining STRs and private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, residuals of a concussion, left shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, and cervical strain.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability due to new and material evidence. However, it denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea as there is no medical evidence showing that his sleep apnea was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current left shoulder disability, diagnosed as status post open biceps tenodesis and arthroscopic subacromial decompression with scar, is related to an injury sustained during active service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's cervical spine and left shoulder/arm disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions to determine if they are related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and the propriety of a reduction in his rating for degenerative changes of the right shoulder have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has ordered additional examination and review of records to determine if the Veteran's left shoulder condition is related to his military service, including consideration of an undiagnosed illness under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, sleep apnea, and a neck disability. The claim for hearing loss was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from November 21, 2003, but his TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions. The Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection are now pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's current neck, shoulder, and elbow pain is not related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, asthma, left shoulder disorder, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU are met.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased evaluations and effective dates related to his right shoulder disability, left shoulder/hands disorder, cervical spine disorder, major depression, and TDIU.

The Veteran's right shoulder tendonitis is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The VA examiner noted that his right shoulder pain due to tendinitis impacts his function and he has had multiple flare-ups of pain.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate addendum opinions and a need for additional medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder and left knee disabilities effective November 1, 2004. The Veteran's claim was filed within one year of separation from active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder injury and hypertension are currently pending. The claim for hearing loss has been denied. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA regulations.