Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including systemic degenerative joint disease and a back disability, are not related to service. The evidence does not show an in-service injury or disease resulting in current disabilities.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is not service-connected, and his claims for PTSD, arthritis of the right hip, and a chest/lung disability were previously denied. The Board finds no new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including headaches, COPD and Pickwickian syndrome, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, arthritis of the neck, arthritis of the legs (claimed as knees), arthritis of the back, arthritis of the shoulders, an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic liver disease, and a heart condition. The claims were denied based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records, scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected left shoulder disability, major depressive disorder, and pseudofolliculitis barbae, and providing a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, left knee disability, and left shoulder disability. However, the preponderance of evidence is against these claims as they are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted, with the exception of his heart condition claim which is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for multiple scars of the head and shoulder was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a right shoulder disorder and a right wrist/forearm disorder, as well as his request for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left retropatellar pain syndrome, have all been denied. The evidence does not establish current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a right arm and shoulder condition, neck condition, back condition, right wrist condition, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his left shoulder and lumbar spine conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral shoulder disorder, as well as his claim for an increased rating for PTSD. The Veteran is not entitled to these benefits based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for a heart condition and arthritis of multiple bones and joints, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his cervical spine disability, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and headaches.

The Veteran's TDIU is denied as the earliest effective date that meets the criteria for a TDIU was November 16, 2009.

The Board has restored a 20% rating for arthritis of the right shoulder from January 1, 2011 through October 12, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disorders, specifically focusing on whether they are related to active duty and/or ACDUTRA service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of right shoulder dislocation with torn glenoid labrum have resulted in disability approximating range of motion of the arm to midway between the side and shoulder level. The Board has determined that a rating of 30 percent is warranted for this condition.

The Veteran's right shoulder, bilateral arm, neck and back disabilities are service connected. The Veteran is granted a higher evaluation for his right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability is denied as the evidence does not show that his disability warrants a higher evaluation than the currently assigned 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for left shoulder disability is considered. The right shoulder disability claim has been reopened, and the extension of convalescence beyond January 31, 2011, for left shoulder surgery is granted.