Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not service-connected, and the Board finds that there is no causal relationship between his current thyroid cancer or esophageal disability and his military service. The left shoulder disability remains undiagnosed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine and bilateral shoulder disabilities are not related to his military service. The evidence does not show a continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's right shoulder dislocation disability is rated at 40 percent, effective June 11, 2013. The acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, fibromyalgia, tension headaches, and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine with muscle strain were denied. The claim for service connection for sinus disability was granted based on allergic rhinitis only. Service connection for TMJ syndrome was established on merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, and right shoulder disorder. The denial is based on a lack of credible evidence supporting the claimed in-service stressors for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder, neck, and back disabilities are inextricably intertwined with his claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran was rendered unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities prior to October 2, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the withdrawal of his claim for an increased rating for cervical spine disability and the reopening of his claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability. The case will be further developed, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for his right shoulder disability, which is secondary to his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, has been remanded due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks due to symptoms such as sleep disturbance, depressed mood, and anxiety.,With reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran, his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been granted, but the effective dates are not specified. The Veteran remains entitled to a separate rating for his painful and unstable amputation scar of the right hand index finger prior to October 23, 2008, and to an initial compensable rating thereafter.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, including left ear hearing loss, PTSD, DJD with supraspinatus tendon tear in the left shoulder, laceration right wrist with ulnar neuropathy and degenerative changes, and bilateral tinnitus.,The Veteran's multiple service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis, right shoulder disability, and lumbar spine disability are not service-connected as her conditions were either not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the severity of his left shoulder disability and determining if he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for his right shoulder disability, to include DJD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, effective June 26, 2017. His scar residuals post right hand injury are rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is not service-connected.,For the entire period at issue, the Veteran's left shoulder disability warrants a compensable evaluation of 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including chronic pharyngitis, erectile dysfunction, allergic conjunctivitis, back disability, headaches, left shoulder and elbow disabilities, enlarged heart with chest pain and abnormal EKG, hypertension, gastrointestinal disability, and hyperthyroidism. The reasons were that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including new examinations and a nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral hip disability. The issues on appeal include claims for increased ratings for right shoulder, lumbar spine, and right knee disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim.