Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right arm and shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is not service connected as it did not develop during his military service and there is no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left shoulder disability, which he claims was caused by an injury in the warehouse during his military service. The VA has requested additional medical opinions to determine if the current condition is related to the 1974 incident.

The Veteran's diagnosed bilateral knee and shoulder disorders are not related to service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately following his military service. The Board finds that the current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a left shoulder disorder, headache disorder, and bladder disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an exceptional or unusual disability picture warranting extra-schedular consideration for the bladder disorder, and that there was no indication of qualifying chronic disabilities for the other conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected orthopedic disorders, including low back disorder, left ankle disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left elbow disorder are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination of his left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. No claims have been decided.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to incomplete information and need for additional development, including an addendum opinion considering the Veteran's current enrollment in a vocational rehabilitation program.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 is rated as 60 percent disabling since November 26, 2013. The RO also granted SMC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s) effective from the same date. TDIU is moot due to the Veteran's already being in receipt of a total disability rating for individual unemployability based on service-connected disability.

The Veteran's neck disability, to include cervical degenerative joint disease and cervical degenerative disc disease, was granted service connection. The right shoulder and right arm disabilities were denied service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis of the bilateral knees, right hip, and right shoulder is related to service. However, hypertension was not present in service or until years thereafter and is not etiologically related to any incident of active duty service.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, and after considering the evidence of marginal employment prior to April 19, 2007, the Board grants TDIU effective September 30, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a retrospective medical opinion from an appropriate VA examiner to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employment. The claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to recent court decisions and the Veteran's assertion of worsening symptoms. The case will be returned to the Board after further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, and his left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent since August 31, 2011. The appeal is granted for these ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, right wrist, and bilateral knee disabilities are not related to service.,Regarding GERD and hiatal hernia, the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is increased in severity due to his service-connected left shoulder degenerative arthritis and post-operative residuals of a left shoulder putti-platt procedure for recurrent dislocations, with contracture. Service connection for a depressive disorder secondary to these conditions is granted.

The Veteran is eligible for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically postoperative severe left elbow fracture with favorable ankylosis. The Board finds that he meets one of the five factors listed in 38 C.F.R. § 3.352(a), which is inability to dress or undress himself.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and a neurological examination for his claimed left ear disability. The issues of service connection for left ear hearing loss, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability are on appeal.