Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, including degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, left shoulder sprain, and rotator cuff tear, was not related to his active service. The preponderance of evidence did not support a grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examinations and incomplete opinions regarding service connection, rating, and TDIU claims.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable initial evaluation for scars from basal cell carcinoma excision, service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, and service connection for left ankle disability were all granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right shoulder and headache disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied both claims.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder strain, bilateral rotator cuff tendonitis, and degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder were found to be incurred in service. The temporary total disability rating for convalescence following right shoulder surgery is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical strain, lumbar strain, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, and right carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a link between his current symptoms and an in-service stressor, despite the Veteran's fear of hostile military activity.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by acromioclavicular separation with degenerative joint disease (DJD), does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 30 percent under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 4, 2001, and granted an extraschedular TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including his cervical spine and headaches, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since January 1, 2010. The Board has determined that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities preclude employment, thus granting TDIU.

The Board found no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's current left shoulder disorder and diabetes mellitus, type II, and his military service. The Veteran's claims were denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. This includes obtaining a new VA examination and requesting an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities prior to June 30, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee arthritis and denied service connection for right shoulder arthritis. The Veteran's right leg disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's lower extremity sciatica is found to be secondary to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current bilateral shoulder disability and grants service connection for it.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his chronic lumbar strain has been granted, with a current effective date of November 26, 2007. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent for this disability.

The Veteran's death in May 2011 was not related to a service-connected disability or service. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that his death was caused by a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to insufficient medical opinions and examination reports.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities did not manifest within one year of separation from service and were not otherwise related to his military service.