Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various conditions, including a left knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than depression (PTSD), has been granted. The effective date of the grant is not specified.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating, service connection for PTSD, and TDIU have been denied. The left shoulder disability is currently rated at 50% from July 22, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examination to determine if his bilateral hand and fingers joint disability and left shoulder disability are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The issues include seeking increased compensation for PTSD, service connection for shoulder conditions secondary to PTSD, and a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance for substitution purposes.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability and finds that there is sufficient evidence to support this claim, granting it.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for clarification of his hearing preference and subsequent scheduling. The issues include rating adjustment, service connection claims, and reopening of previous claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need for a new VA examination and additional service treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including shell fragment wounds and psychiatric disorders, are granted. The Board finds that the Veteran engaged in combat with the enemy and his reported injuries during service are credible.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a left shoulder disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been granted service connection with an effective date of June 12, 2013.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities have each been granted a separate evaluation at 10 percent.

The Veteran's left shoulder arthritis and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine (neck disability) have been granted service connection. The claim for an increased rating for the neck disability has also been granted, with a current evaluation of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding direct service connection and secondary aggravation of the Veteran's sleep disability by his PTSD. The Veteran now asserts that his sleep apnea may be related to, or aggravated by any of his service-connected disabilities, in addition to his PTSD, as well as the medications used to treat the service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for right shoulder osteoarthritis and maxillary sinusitis with retention cyst have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities have been rated at 20 percent since July 26, 2016. The current ratings are considered appropriate based on the clinical findings and diagnostic testing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including ulnar nerve entrapment, knee disabilities, shoulder disability, neck disability, pes planus, foot neuroma, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The reduction in evaluation for DDD of the lumbar spine was also found to be improper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of the left shoulder that manifested during, or as a result of, active military service. The claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder is therefore denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal in its entirety through a signed statement dated September 20, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder injury did not originate during service and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.,Service connection was granted for GERD as it is established to have originated during active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and service personnel records. The Veteran will also undergo examinations to determine the current severity of his bilateral knee chondromalacia, nature and etiology of any cardiac disability, right shoulder and cervical/lumbar spine disabilities.