Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions including knee and hip arthritis, neck pain, and shoulder issues. The Board has determined that new examinations are necessary to accurately assess the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's service was not considered eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits due to his discharge being an entry level separation and not a dishonorable discharge, nor did he meet the 30-day active duty requirement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's in-service duties as a wheeled vehicle mechanic likely caused or contributed to his current bilateral shoulder disabilities, and thus grants service connection for right shoulder disability and left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome is currently rated at 40 percent, effective October 27, 2014. The Board finds that the evidence supports a grant of an increased rating to 40 percent for this period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The right shoulder disability claim remains pending as a new examination was ordered.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including consideration of new evidence and confirmation of SSA disability benefits status.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the denial of an extension of a total evaluation based on convalescence for surgery for his service-connected left shoulder disability during the April 2015 hearing. As such, this issue is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, specifically a right rotator cuff strain, is at least as likely as not caused by or incurred in military service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities, including impingement syndrome and AC joint arthrosis, are currently rated at 20 percent for the left shoulder and 30 percent for the right shoulder. Effective February 23, 2016, the ratings have been increased to 40 percent for the right shoulder and 30 percent for the left shoulder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical records, scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities, and determining whether any claimed conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to ensure that all relevant evidence has been considered and the current severity of his bilateral shoulder disabilities, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and keloids have been assessed. The right eye pterygium claim will also be addressed.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear at his scheduled hearing, and a new hearing date will be provided.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA medical records, verifying periods of active duty, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left shoulder impingement syndrome was denied. The claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and for TDIU were also addressed but not adjudicated due to the lack of a substantive appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated appropriately, with the exception of his right knee strain and partial amputation of the left middle finger distal interphalangeal joint, which now receive higher initial ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected headache disorder, scars of the right neck, right ear, and scalp, right lateral chest scars, and left shoulder shrapnel wound are all rated at their maximum levels. The Board found that the current schedular evaluations adequately reflect the severity and symptoms of these disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected left shoulder sprain, left forearm scar, and painful left forearm laceration scar. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from October 16, 2006 due to his service-connected disabilities resulting in a combined rating of at least 60 percent.