Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities, assigning a 30 percent rating effective January 9, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee replacement, shoulder arthritis, major depressive disorder, and a healed perforation of the tympanic membrane, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations and cognitive impairments.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is not related to service or a service-connected condition.,The Board also found no evidence of a current left foot disability due to service, and concluded that any such disability is unrelated to his service-connected left lower extremity strain.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and bilateral shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's urticaria was granted service connection. The initial rating for his lumbar spine disability, rated at 20 percent prior to May 18, 2015, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter, is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions did not have onset during active service or within one year of discharge, and are not otherwise etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's left shoulder adhesive capsulitis has not resulted in limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side, as required for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is not rated higher than noncompensable. The Veteran's skin cancer of the right shoulder and face, to include the nose, has been found not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right shoulder disabilities did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and are not related to any incident in service. As such, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypoglycemia and an initial evaluation of 10 percent for left shoulder AC joint arthritis prior to November 21, 2013. The Board found that there was no current disability manifested by hypoglycemia and that the Veteran did not have limitation of motion in his left arm at the shoulder level or midway between side and shoulder level prior to November 21, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, and the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, left shoulder disorder, and bilateral knee disorders are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition. The right shoulder disability claim remains pending as it was not addressed under the theory of direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate the appellant's various disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder strain, left knee strain, and right ankle strain based on the Veteran's in-service injuries.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right shoulder chronic dislocations with osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are continuous since service separation.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 30% for the entire rating period, and his left shoulder injury is rated at 10% effective September 1, 2011. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted prior to September 1, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder osteoarthritis was incurred in active service, and thus granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of right ankle and right shoulder disabilities. The case will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected ventral incisional hernia was granted as a result of new and material evidence, but his cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities remain denied.