Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities require additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Board found no causal link between the Veteran's current right shoulder disorder and his service, concluding that it is more likely due to a work-related injury in 2006.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities have not met the criteria for a higher rating during the period from September 3, 2002 to August 22, 2004.

The Veteran's right shoulder osteoarthritis is not service-connected, and his current right arm disability (including numbness and pain) is not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder, elbow, and ring finger pain are not due to an undiagnosed illness attributable to service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War era. The symptoms are attributed to known clinical diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, heart disability, damaged teeth, bilateral shoulder disability, and low back disability are not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability, tinnitus, and bilateral knee disability are all service-connected. The decision also addresses a clothing allowance or fee dispute issue which is referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 50 percent prior to September 22, 2011.,From September 22, 2012, through January 7, 2014, and from March 1, 2015, through March 15, 2016, the Veteran was rated at 60 percent for his right shoulder disability following total shoulder replacement.,Since March 16, 2016, the Veteran's right shoulder disability has been rated at 90 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The claims are now considered on their merits.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a Social Industrial Survey and obtaining records of vocational services discussions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to address the etiology of his left shoulder disability and assess his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and social and industrial survey to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and its impact on his employability.

The Veteran's claims are mixed, with some issues granted and others not. The primary issue is the evaluation for PTSD, which remains at 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD, and the diabetes mellitus claim was not granted due to lack of in-service manifestation within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic joint pain of shoulders, wrists and ankles is a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317(a)(2), as it can be attributed to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness.

The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for a low back disability, left shoulder disability, or depressive disorder due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's additional disability was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill. The evidence did not support a finding that the event was not reasonably foreseeable.

The Board found no evidence of a shoulder disability in service and denied the Veteran's claims for right and left shoulder disabilities.,There is no evidence of a current elbow disability, and the claim was not addressed.