Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis has been reopened and granted. The Veteran is also granted increased ratings for his right knee instability and arthritis, as well as left knee arthritis.,Service connection for headaches secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to missing documents and the need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability as secondary to his right shoulder disability was denied. The Board found that the Veteran had not been precluded from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to September 24, 2011.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on all issues, including service connection for a left hip disability and increased ratings for various joints and hypertension. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder, back, and neck disabilities did not have onset during service or were caused by active service. As such, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral knee, left ankle, and right shoulder disabilities are service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right shoulder disabilities do not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule, as his range of motion does not meet the criteria for ratings above 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disorder, and left shoulder disorder are service-connected. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and the retrieval of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities are proximately due to his service-connected left knee disability, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, the highest available rating. His right shoulder disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disability, which was noted at enlistment and pre-existed service, did not increase in severity during service. The claim for an initial compensable rating for his scar of the right fourth finger also failed to meet the criteria.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of lumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities. The claims are granted as these conditions have existed continuously since separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right shoulder disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's right hand carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical spine condition did not have onset in service or were otherwise related to service.,Service connection was denied for both conditions as there is no evidence of a direct relationship between these disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant notifying the Board of their intention to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The appeals are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, left shoulder condition, and low back condition. The decision found insufficient evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation for these conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was granted an increased rating to 30 percent from September 21, 2012 to September 15, 2016. The issues of a separate rating for brachial plexus neuropathy and TDIU were not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's post-operative scarring of the left and right shoulders is tender, warranting a 10 percent rating since December 26, 2012.