Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent effective April 16, 2007. The appeal for increased ratings is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to the incorrect mailing of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's case requires further development due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of his right shoulder disability and skin disabilities. The Veteran is being remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a chronic low back and cervical spine disability, bilateral shoulder arthritis, residuals of prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, bilateral ankle arthritis, right knee arthritis, and right hip arthritis, have not been substantiated by the evidence of record. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions had onset during active service or are otherwise related to such service.

The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected right shoulder disability, which has worsened since the last examination. The Board finds that a new VA examination is required to assess the current level of severity of the Veteran's right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right shoulder disability, and to determine if he is entitled to separate evaluations for any related conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left shoulder disabilities due to outstanding VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for a TDIU effective from June 3, 2014, and his service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial increased rating claim for residual scars, status post basal cell carcinoma of the central back and squamous cell carcinoma of the left shoulder has been granted. The Veteran is currently rated at a 10 percent disability rating since May 13, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee and left shoulder disabilities are not related to his active service.,VA medical examinations have found no residual disability from the in-service injuries, and the Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with service connection for obstructive sleep apnea established and increased ratings for PTSD, asthma, right shoulder rotator cuff tear residuals, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, cerebrovascular accident (CVA) residuals, seborrheic dermatitis, and hypertension. The Veteran is also granted TDIU as of August 28, 2009.

The Board previously denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on a need for aid and attendance or housebound status. The appeal is now remanded to address issues of service connection, including those related to bilateral knee disorders, postoperative residuals of bladder cancer and kidney cancer (secondary to Agent Orange exposure), and an eye disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including skin disease, right shoulder disorder, elbow disorder, low back disorder, knee disorders, left ankle disorder, foot disorders, pulmonary disorder, and heart disorder. The decision found that new evidence did not reopen the claim of skin disease, and that none of the other conditions were related to service or a pre-existing disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's congenital bilateral absence of the pectoralis major, with recurrent dislocation of both shoulders, was clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service. However, it is not clear whether this condition was aggravated during active service. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to evaluate his service-connected lumbar spine disability and left shoulder condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of exposure to toxins while in service and examinations to determine the cause of his disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder rotator cuff syndrome with degenerative changes is related to his active service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen any of the previously denied claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and left shoulder disabilities, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his service-connected left knee disability.