Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of VA treatment records.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service-connected right ear hearing loss. Service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, but malaria is not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, including pes planus, hallux valgus, hallux limitus, hallux rigidus, and left hammer toes, is found to be secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's gastrointestinal issues and right shoulder disability are not addressed in the decision summary provided.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is not causally or etiologically related to his in-service injury, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA examination and review of the Veteran's service treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's left shoulder condition is found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted. The issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for herniated nucleus pulposus of the right paracentral C5-6 remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule new VA examinations for his right knee, right shoulder, and left wrist disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle, right wrist, left wrist, and right shoulder disabilities, as well as PTSD. The TDIU claim is being remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress and chronic sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability are met.

The Veteran's hypertension and right shoulder disability have been granted service connection, but the hypertension does not warrant a compensable rating. The right shoulder disability is rated at 20%.

The Board has found the record incomplete and has ordered additional efforts to obtain VA treatment records from 1986-1987 and private medical records. The appeal is REMANDED for these actions.

The Veteran's left knee disability, resulting from a motorcycle accident in service and eventually requiring total knee replacement surgery, is found to be related to his active duty service. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of high cholesterol, hypertension, sleep apnea, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, right knee disability, low back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral elbow disability have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran at his hearing. The appeal for service connection on the issue of right hip disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his records.

The Veteran's diabetes type II is not related to his military service. The Board finds that VA examinations are needed for the left shoulder, left foot, and back disabilities.

The Veteran is entitled to SMC at the highest level due to his need for aid and attendance, including help with daily activities such as bathing, feeding, dressing, and managing medications. His condition requires substantial care on a daily basis.

The Veteran's appeals are being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess his left shoulder, right ankle, and skin disabilities. The claims will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left shoulder disorder, as well as his claims for increased evaluations of multiple shell fragment wound scars on various parts of the body, were granted. The effective date is February 24, 2000.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from February 27, 2014, forward. The TDIU was not granted for the period from July 2, 2010 to February 27, 2014 as the threshold percentage requirements were not met.