Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Board denied all service connection claims, including for nicotine dependence as a matter of law and for limited use of the hands as moot due to the grant of service connection. The Veteran's skin disability was rated based on its severity.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the rating for left shoulder tenosynovitis, osteoarthritis, status-post surgery with screw from 20 to 10 percent effective December 29, 2010 was proper and restoration is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities have been rated based on limitation of motion. The evaluations are denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating due to functional loss or other criteria.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for a gunshot wound of the right shoulder and upper arm was denied. The disability is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Codes 5301-5323.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current left shoulder disability to his service, including an in-service injury. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his PTSD, tinnitus and headaches, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, and a left shoulder disorder. Service connection is denied for hyperlipidemia.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD and whether any current nerve, prostate, left shoulder, back, hypertension, bilateral hand arthritis, or vision disability are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records, verify stressors, and provide updated opinions regarding his acquired psychiatric disorder and left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The issues include increased ratings for cervical and lumbosacral conditions, service connection for degenerative lumbosacral spondylosis, and service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of gainful employment consistent with his educational background and occupational experience, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current eye or shoulder disability related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability was received, but denied the underlying de novo issue of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examination reports and insufficient reasoning in previous decisions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical opinions and records. The issues include rating the right shoulder disorder, evaluating bilateral knee disorders, determining service connection for left hip, right ankle, and neck disorders, and seeking service connection for a sleep disorder.

The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any current or chronic conditions related to the issues on appeal. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability, right wrist strain, right knee disability, staphylococcus infection, and left calf tear. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was not reopened, as no new and material evidence was submitted within one year of the denial. Similarly, the claim for headache syndrome was also not reopened. However, the claim for a skin disability was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of his right shoulder disability was denied, as the evidence did not show limitation of motion to midway between the side and shoulder level. The issues of service connection for a back disability and TDIU were also addressed but are remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU, with his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.