Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent since August 22, 2007. The decision also addressed his service-connected brachial plexopathy and found it warranted a separate 20 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating of left nephrectomy with scar, as well as the claims for bilateral foot/toe disabilities, right hip replacement, left hip replacement, right shoulder replacement, and left knee replacement. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records from private sources and Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding his surgeries and applications for disability benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and likely etiology of any neurological disability of his left upper extremity, as well as the current severity of his service-connected left shoulder and right hand/wrist disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and review of the claims folder, Virtual VA files, and VBMS. The Veteran's newly selected representative will be notified to review the evidence and provide any necessary presentation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including verification of his service in the Southwest Asia theater and obtaining VA examination reports to assess the severity of his right shoulder disorder, right ankle sprain, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and instability of the right knee. The AOJ should also consider whether the Veteran is entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) records and VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and determined that a higher disability rating is warranted for the Veteran's left shoulder impingement/rotator cuff tendinitis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service connection claims and TDIU claim, including obtaining medical records from his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder and bilateral plantar fasciitis disabilities are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, beginning on April 4, 2001. A schedular total disability rating based upon individual unemployability is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder, to include deltoid strain, is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of his claims, including those related to hearing loss, shoulder injury, knee instability, and limitation of motion.

The Veteran's PTSD is service connected. The right and left shoulder disabilities are not service connected as there was no in-service injury or disease, and the current conditions do not meet the one-year presumptive period.

The Board has remanded both issues for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA medical records. A new VA examination is also required to determine the relationship between any current right shoulder disability and active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis and lumbar spine hypertrophic osteoarthritis did not meet the criteria for higher ratings, while the left ear hearing loss was rated at its maximum allowable level of Level I impairment. PTSD met the criteria for a 70 percent rating prior to December 12, 2011, but from that date forward, it did not warrant an increased rating beyond 30 percent. The GERD and hiatal hernia with gallbladder disease were rated at their maximum allowable level of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is service-connected and his radiculopathy of the left lower extremity warrants a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability and patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee were granted service connection, with a 10% rating for the latter prior to July 8, 2013.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for low back disability. The Veteran's current low back disability is not shown to be related to his military service, as there is no chronic disability noted in service or within one year post-service. For right shoulder disability, there is also no showing of a chronic disability and it is not linked to service. Therefore, the claims for both conditions are denied.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates were denied as the evidence did not show that he filed a claim prior to February 10, 2010.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted with an effective date of February 10, 2010.