Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 50 percent, effective April 25, 2007. The Board found that referral for extraschedular consideration was not warranted and denied the TDIU claims prior to January 23, 2011 and from January 23, 2011 forward.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left and right shoulder disabilities did not manifest during or as a result of his military service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's joint pain affecting his back, neck, shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, hands/fingers, and hips has been attributed to clinical diagnoses including DDD and DJD of the lumbar spine with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, DDD and DJD of the cervical spine with bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral shoulder, arm, hand and finger tendonitis, and chronic bilateral wrist sprain. The Veteran's disabilities affecting his back, neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands/fingers, hips, and legs did not originate in service or within a year of service, and are not otherwise etiologically related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed chronic fatigue, joint pain (excluding patella condition of right knee), and precancerous mass of the lower intestine are not related to service or any incident therein.,Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing and the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) on several service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to additional evidence being associated with the record after a previous statement of the case.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, back disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral knee disorders, back disorder, and left shoulder disorders are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and additional development of the TDIU claim.

The Board found that the appellant's right shoulder AC joint DJD is related to an injury sustained during active service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and right ankle disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding all issues, including service connection for various ankle and knee disabilities, sinus disorder, left thumb sprain, lumbar strain, shoulder degenerative joint disease, and onychomycosis of bilateral feet. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right shoulder disability, and therefore the Board finds that service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury is denied.

The Board has determined that new examinations are necessary for the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder and acquired psychiatric disorders. The case is REMANDED to obtain these examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability and service connection claim for a left shoulder disability. The case will be returned to the Board after completion of these actions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder was denied as he does not have a currently-diagnosed disability. His claim for bilateral knee disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence on file.

The Veteran's right foot pes planus was granted service connection. The Board also found that the Veteran had in-service complaints and physical duties related to his right shoulder, right hip, and left hip disabilities, but did not provide an opinion on whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability, diagnosed as DJD, was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service. The VA examiner found no nexus between the current right shoulder condition and the service-connected gunshot wound to the neck. The Veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD features is currently rated at 30%.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and TDIU due to deficiencies in the examinations provided. The Veteran needs a new VA examination for his left shoulder disability and right wrist disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings have been granted, with the left shoulder rotator cuff tear with degenerative changes receiving a 20 percent rating. The right and left foot disabilities each receive a 10 percent rating prior to April 27, 2012, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter. Allergic rhinitis receives a non-compensable rating. Post-operative scars on the right ankle and left shoulder are also rated as non-compensable.