Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding private medical records related to the Veteran's right shoulder disability. The claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, diagnosed as dislocation with arthritis of the AC joint, does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 16, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability had its onset during active service and is related to an in-service injury, thus granting service connection for left shoulder status post total shoulder arthroplasty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been denied as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 17, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and service treatment records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder, knee, ankle, and back disabilities are also being addressed.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left shoulder disorders are not related to his in-service fall and thus denied service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claims for higher ratings were not substantiated by the evidence of record. The Veteran's headaches, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and insomnia were all rated appropriately based on their severity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for PTSD, right knee disability, and tinnitus. The claim to reopen service connection for a right hand disability was also denied. No new rating decision has been issued since these decisions.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board has determined that there is no current left shoulder disability and the Veteran's service treatment records do not show any such condition. As a result, the claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD has been granted, and the issue is dismissed due to a complete grant of benefits.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated 30 percent disabling effective October 1, 2013. The maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5201 is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to incomplete examinations, while the TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the other two.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder acromioclavicular joint arthritis was granted, and the appeal for a combined evaluation in excess of 40 percent for service-connected disabilities was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings remain on appeal. The RO must consider all of the evidence received since the issuance of the May 2015 supplemental statement of the case and issue a rating decision to implement the grant of an increased disability evaluation of 10 percent for the service-connected multi-level degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and a 20 percent disability for the anterior reconstruction and arthroscopic surgery of the left shoulder, effective April 23, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a left shoulder disability and increased rating for his right shoulder disability. The Veteran's left shoulder condition is not related to service or service-connected conditions, while his right shoulder disability warrants no more than a 20 percent rating since February 26, 2015.