Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including the need to revise the April 12, 2016 rating decision and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

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

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is to be evaluated in detail, and an extraschedular rating may also be considered.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, migraine headaches, left shoulder strain with glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, left elbow strain, right elbow strain, left wrist sprain, right wrist sprain, cervical spine strain, left ankle strain, right ankle strain, and left knee strain with arthritis. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.,The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain with arthritis. The Board found that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability did not manifest in service and is not otherwise related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left wrist sprain and right ankle sprain was received on April 10, 2014. The Board finds that the earliest claim for entitlement to benefits for both a left wrist sprain and a right ankle sprain was received on April 10, 2014.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and anxiety), cervical spine disability, hypertension, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and low back disability are all related to his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right ankle or right shoulder disability, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's neck and right shoulder disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of chronic conditions manifesting within one year post-service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting the grant of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development and readjudication due to inadequate medical reports and reasons provided in the previous decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI residuals and left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis are service-connected as they were caused by his PTSD, which is already service-connected.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder has been withdrawn.,Service connection for neck and GERD disorders is not granted as the evidence does not support their occurrence during or within one year after service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly assess the Veteran's right shoulder scars, DJD and impingement of the right shoulder, and bilateral plantar fasciitis with left heel spurs. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his left hearing loss, tinnitus, or any of the other service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including headaches, an acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, a back disability, TBI, bilateral shoulder disability, and eye disability. The claim of reopening service connection for gout was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disease and TDIU. The Veteran was found not to have a current disability related to kidney disease, and his combined rating did not meet the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right shoulder injury prior to June 20, 2011 resulted in painful motion but no limitation of motion. A 10% disability rating is granted for this period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The initial compensable ratings for pseudofolliculitis barbae and left shoulder scar, as well as the increased rating for recurrent dislocation of the left shoulder with traumatic arthritis, were not granted. The claim for an increased rating for depressive disorder was also denied.