Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been granted service connection and assigned a 20% evaluation effective November 30, 1998. The other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as she does not have a current disability that meets the VA criteria for hearing loss. The claims for service connection for vertigo, shoulder disability, and back disability are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for syphilis was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction was also denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment and the absence of post-service medical records linking it to service.

The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative arthritis with impingement syndrome is rated at 20 percent prior to February 18, 2016 and 30 percent from that date. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is currently rated as 20 percent disabling.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are denied as his conditions do not warrant a higher rating based on current evidence.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition has not been characterized by limitation of motion at shoulder level or below.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy has been manifest by moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve with sensory deficits and pain, numbness, and tingling; those symptoms have not been productive of severe incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right wrist and bilateral shoulder disabilities, as well as his PTSD claim, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of the currently assigned ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been manifested by limited motion and pain during the entire appeal period, most closely approximating motion limited to midway between the side and the shoulder level. The Board finds that a rating of 30 percent for DJD of the right shoulder is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder osteoarthritis and migraine headaches have been granted higher initial ratings, while the tinea pedis with onychomycosis remains at a non-compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development, including obtaining SSA records and determining if an extraschedular TDIU rating on his service-connected disabilities prior to September 23, 2009, is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and his other psychiatric diagnoses are not shown to be related to an in-service event or injury. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the worsening condition of his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn with respect to the issue of service connection for community acquired pneumonia. The claim of service connection for hypertension was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. No current diagnoses were found for right shoulder disorder, gout, polyarthralgia, fibromyalgia, or chronic fatigue syndrome. Service connection was not granted for gastrointestinal disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability, diagnosed as a chronic rotator cuff tear and osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, is related to his active service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder was present prior to service and not aggravated by military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded it for further development, including an examination to determine if his current condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from January 10, 2015. His right shoulder disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions and develop the record further regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hip disorder, skin disorder, and right shoulder disorder. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of these conditions and that they were not related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome has been rated at 20 percent since October 1, 2006. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to limited range of motion.,The Veteran was denied TDIU benefits for the period beginning October 1, 2005, to August 26, 2011, as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment during this time.