Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Veteran is granted a 10 percent rating for his left shoulder AC separation with arthritis from June 1, 2010 to July 14, 2015. He is also granted a 10 percent rating for his left shoulder AC joint malunion from July 1, 2013 to July 14, 2015.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected right shoulder disability on his ability to work. The case will also be referred to the Director, Compensation and Pension Service, for extraschedular consideration of a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for burns to the hands, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a sleep disorder. The issues regarding back, right knee, right shoulder, left shoulder disorders, and left knee disorder were reconsidered but also denied on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current disabilities and obtaining treatment records from the Navy Hospital at Mucosa.

The Board has found that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected shoulder disability, thus granting entitlement to TDIU prior to March 7, 2012 and throughout the period on appeal. The increased rating claim for shoulder disability remains pending.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the service-connected right shoulder disability, effective from January 27, 2015. The Veteran's appeal was successful in obtaining this higher rating.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for lumbar spine paraspinous muscle strain and recurrent left shoulder dislocation were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating during the one-year period prior to the claim.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining inpatient medical records from Chanute Air Force Base and other relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be decided, including obtaining audiogram results and conducting VA examinations for hearing loss, left shoulder disability, and lower back disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on his audiometric test results.

The Board has determined that the remand directives with respect to the claims for left shoulder and right knee disorders were not substantially complied with due to deficiencies in the VA compensation examination opinions and rationales. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings, as well as an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to cervical spine degenerative intervertebral disc disease with left upper radiculopathy, residuals of left shoulder decompression with impingement, and bilateral knee arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of in-service herbicide exposure or other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits of his claims has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal regarding bilateral total knee replacements and left shoulder surgery.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for degenerative arthritis and IVDS of the lumbar spine.,Service connection was denied for residuals of a neck injury, as well as residuals of bilateral shoulder injuries.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, back disorder, bilateral shoulder degenerative joint disease, and higher ratings for residuals of TBI and residuals of TBI with tension-type headaches.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, including bilateral hip disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, neck disorder, upper back pain disorder, and liver disorder. The decision is final as the Veteran did not appeal it.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to October 13, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for hemorrhoids, denied all other claims.