Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left shoulder disorders did not onset during service or are otherwise related to his active duty service, and thus denied both claims of service connection.

The Veteran's right shoulder disabilities have been evaluated based on their functional limitations, with the highest rating of 20 percent for dislocation status post anterior labral tear, right shoulder. The Veteran’s right shoulder instability has not resulted in frequent episodes of recurrent dislocation or guarding of all arm movements.,For his scars associated with his right shoulder disability, there is no evidence of painful, unstable, or malaligned joints that would warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new VA examination to determine if any current left shoulder condition is related to service. The Veteran's lumbosacral condition claim remains on appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is not related to his service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, resolving the Veteran's appeal on this issue.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records, as well as an examination for the Veteran's knee, shoulder, back, and neck disorders. The appeal will be remanded to allow these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his right shoulder disability and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, back, neck, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various disabilities, including PTSD and its related conditions. The Board has determined that a hearing is needed to address these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected conditions have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination and additional development of records, as per Correia v. McDonald (2016). The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left shoulder biceps tendonitis remains on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, consideration of new evidence, and clarification on the relationship between his current disabilities and service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address the etiology of any current left shoulder disability(ies) and whether it is related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal due to scheduling issues and is advancing his case on its docket. The Veteran will be scheduled for a hearing at the Indianapolis RO, with consideration of his current dialysis schedule.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition and skin condition were denied as the evidence did not establish a nexus to active duty service.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability, as the previous examination report did not include testing on active motion, passive motion, weight-bearing and non-weight bearing.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for service connection of PTSD with depression. Other claims were not resolved in his favor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability warrants a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5201-5024, based on limitation of motion and arthritis. The appeal is granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are severe enough to warrant Category I status for self-employment, but the evidence does not show that all traditional employment goals other than self-employment are unsuitable due to his disabilities. Therefore, the appeal is denied.