Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability, including strain, bursitis, and trapezius muscle pain, is related to his active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected left shoulder and right ring finger disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, right shoulder strain, right ear hearing loss, and pain disorder with depression were received on March 4, 2011. The effective date assigned is March 4, 2011.,A claim for right shoulder strain was denied in January 2010 but the Veteran did not appeal this decision or submit new evidence within one year of the rating decision. A new claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability was received on March 4, 2011 and granted with an effective date of March 4, 2011.,The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss and pain disorder with depression were denied in January 2010. No new evidence was submitted within one year of the rating decision. A new claim for service connection for these disabilities was received on March 4, 2011 and granted with an effective date of March 4, 2011.,The Veteran's claims for residuals of a traumatic brain injury were denied in January 2010 but the Veteran did not appeal this decision or submit new evidence within one year of the rating decision. A new claim for service connection was received on March 4, 2011 and granted with an effective date of March 4, 2011.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle and knee disabilities, as well as back and left shoulder disabilities. Further development is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased rating of PTSD, as well as the issues related to colon cancer, bilateral knee condition, neck disorder, and right shoulder condition have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence. The case will be returned to the AOJ for readjudication.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including a temporary total rating based on prosthetic replacement of the shoulder joint and a permanent 60 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5051. The Veteran is also entitled to TDIU due to his service-connected right shoulder disability alone, as well as SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder rotator cuff strain and associated conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of June 2, 2009. Effective July 1, 2011, the Veteran was granted TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her left knee and right knee disabilities, as well as a higher evaluation for her left shoulder disability, were denied. The current ratings assigned are appropriate.

The Veteran's right knee disorder and left shoulder disability have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current right knee disability related to service or the service-connected left knee condition, and there was insufficient medical opinion to support a finding that the right knee disorder is secondary to the service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as there is no credible evidence of a right or left shoulder injury during service, and the record does not contain probative evidence relating any currently diagnosed shoulder disorder to active service.,The Veteran's appeal is denied as there is no credible evidence of tinnitus during service or for many years thereafter. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that current tinnitus is related to active service.

The Veteran's right shoulder DJD is rated at 20 percent, excluding the period of a 100 percent rating from October 16, 2013 through January 31, 2014.,Prior to September 8, 2017, the Veteran's left shoulder DJD was rated at 20 percent. After September 8, 2017, a temporary total rating of 100 percent was granted for six weeks following surgery on his left shoulder.,The Veteran received a 100% convalescence rating from September 8, 2017 to October 31, 2017 due to therapeutic immobilization of the joint.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, and back disorder due to lack of evidence showing a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder, diagnosed as tendinitis. The issue of service connection for a stomach disorder is also addressed and the Veteran's contentions are found to be at least in equipoise with evidence showing symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeal is not ready for adjudication by the Board due to incomplete review and a need for issuance of a supplemental statement of the case. The Veteran should be scheduled for a hearing with a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and an acquired psychiatric disability. Service connection is also granted for arthritis (right shoulder) but not OSA.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his right knee disability and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The issues of service connection for a left shoulder disability and a right shoulder condition are also being addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a disability for which service connection is sought. As such, no service connection is granted.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to a single disability alone, and he is already rated at 100% disabling.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is service connected. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral ankle, knee, shoulder, and lumbar spine disabilities.