Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Board found no evidence of hemorrhoids during service and denied the Veteran's claims for arthritis, left knee pain, plantar bone spurs, right thumb disability, and little finger or third finger disability. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 50 percent, the maximum allowable rating under Diagnostic Code 5201. The Board also granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by a dislocation of the acromioclavicular joint and distal clavicle resection, has been rated at 20 percent. The Board determined that a higher rating of 30 percent is warranted based on limitation of motion to 60 degrees from the side with additional pain after repetitive testing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as his combined rating is 80 percent. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of unemployability solely due to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a scar of the right lower leg is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran incurred a scar during active duty and it is related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's left shoulder disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted based on in-service acoustic trauma exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new examination. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an effective date prior to May 27, 2011 were denied as it was not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's disabilities had increased within one year of his claim.,VA received notification of the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) award in June 2011. The SSA decision did not consider all service-connected disabilities, and thus, VA determined that an effective date prior to May 27, 2011 for TDIU was granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left shoulder condition was neither incurred in nor related to service, and therefore denies her claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of left shoulder disability and granted it, finding that his current condition is related to his active service. The issue of secondary psychiatric disability due to left shoulder disability was not decided as there were insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was not found to warrant an increased rating beyond the current 20 percent, and his TDIU claim is pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back and shoulder disabilities, as well as a need for a new VA examination to assess the functional effects of his bilateral hearing loss disability on daily life.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder, including a partial rotator cuff tear and degenerative arthritis, is not service-connected. The issues of increased evaluations for left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, PTSD, and TDIU are also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain verification of service in Southwest Asia and to determine if her claimed conditions are related to such service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and his right shoulder disability remains at a 10 percent rating. Both conditions are not found to warrant higher ratings based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine, scar on the left calf, erectile dysfunction, right shoulder disability, gastrointestinal disorder, TMJ, and tinnitus have all been granted.,However, further examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has chronic toenail fungus and/or chronic plantar fasciitis related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU for the entire appellate period.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling VA examinations for his service-connected hemorrhoids and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and readjudication of his claims, including obtaining missing records from a previous claim filed in 1982.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arthritis of multiple joints and coronary artery disease, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to September 5, 2013.