Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability, sleep apnea, neck condition and gastrointestinal condition are all service-connected. The Board has also granted service connection for sinusitis and low back condition. However, the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist and knee conditions have not been established as service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of right shoulder disability, service connection for low back disability, stomach disability, bilateral knee disability, and dental problems were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions regarding his in-service injuries or disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and conducting VA examinations to assess the Veteran's disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease remain on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU as his disability rating is only 20 percent, which is below the threshold minimum percentage rating requirements.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various joint disabilities, including arthritis of the hands, feet, legs, and shoulders, were granted. The conditions are considered to be due to natural progression or injury during service.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of myofascial pain syndrome of the cervical spine, the neck, and the shoulders should be September 19, 1953, as this is the day following the Veteran's separation from active service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by impingement syndrome, degenerative arthritis, Hill-Sachs deformity, and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent. The claim for TDIU has been withdrawn.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to clarify the severity of the service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension and found new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The claims for muscle and joint aches, pulmonary disorder, sinus disorder, and liver disorder were not addressed as they are considered separate issues.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder scar and head scars (two behind the left ear) related to in-service injuries. The right hand fracture and trigger finger condition are also considered service-connected.,Service connection is established for all three conditions: a left shoulder scar, two head scars behind the left ear, and a right hand fracture with trigger finger.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability, hypertension, epididymitis, and bilateral flat feet due to lack of evidence showing onset during active service or within one year of discharge. The VA examiners provided negative nexus opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus of the left foot is denied as there is no current diagnosis. The Veteran has a currently assigned rating for his hallux malleus.

The Veteran seeks service connection for multiple joint disabilities, including bilateral knee disability, bilateral shoulder pain, low back pain, and right side pain. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing or unavailable records, including military personnel records and treatment records from Fort Hood. The Veteran is asked to provide any additional medical evidence in his possession.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the appellant's claims for service connection and TDIU, including obtaining verification of her periods of active duty training (ADT) after 1980, obtaining all relevant VA and non-VA treatment records, scheduling a VA audiology examination, and verifying SSA disability benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, left elbow disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disabilities. The Veteran's dermatitis claim was granted with a 10 percent rating effective June 27, 2011.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the evaluations for thoracolumbar spine DDD and status post vertebral fusion with slight dextrorotoscoliosis, right knee retropatellar pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, right total knee arthroplasty, status post left total knee replacement, DJD right shoulder status post rotator cuff repair and pin replacement, and hypertension. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right shoulder strain and DJD, postoperative prostate cancer, residuals of appendix surgery with scars, and erectile dysfunction, are rated at 90 percent combined. The Board finds that these conditions render the Veteran unemployable due to their severity and impact on his ability to work.

The Veteran's left shoulder nerve disorder is currently rated at the highest schedular rating allowable under the most relevant diagnostic code, and no other diagnostic codes are applicable to his symptoms.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability was manifested by pain upon motion; however, favorable ankylosis of the scapulohumeral joint, limitation of motion to midway between side and shoulder level, infrequent episodes of dislocation of the humeral joint with guarding of movement to the shoulder level, or malunion/fibrous union/nonunion of the humerus, or loss of the humerus head, has not been shown.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.