Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Board has ordered a remand for an addendum medical opinion to determine the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disorder. The claim is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and arranging for VA examinations of his left shoulder and thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for a lumbar spine disability, special home adaptation grant, specially adapted housing, and SMC based upon the need for aid and attendance for the Veteran's spouse as the appellant withdrew his appeal. The claim for SMC was denied due to lack of evidence showing that the Veteran's spouse is in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also found that the current right shoulder condition is related to an injury sustained during active military service.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for a rating of 30 percent for PTSD with a mood disorder, effective April 11, 2014. The Board found that the Veteran timely filed an appeal regarding his initial 10 percent rating for PTSD and established service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to GERD and hiatal hernia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed back condition or joint conditions (left shoulder, bilateral elbows, and bilateral knees). As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient explanation in the February 2014 VA examination regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current left shoulder disorder and his service, specifically his motor vehicle accident. The examiner also did not address the Veteran's contention that the shoulder was related to his service-connected back disability.

The Board has determined that there is no current disability for either the bilateral shoulder or right knee, and thus cannot grant service connection.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's fibromyalgia, right shoulder tendinitis, and left shoulder arthritis are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records from November 2014 to present. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right rotator cuff tear with arthritis (right shoulder disability), secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability, is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, left shoulder disability, and residuals of frostbite of right hand do not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was found to not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to April 22, 2008 and not in excess of 20 percent from that date. The evidence did not show ankylosis or functional limitation of arm motion below shoulder level.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and compliance with Board's remand directives. The AOJ will schedule appropriate foreign resident examinations, obtain all available records, and review and readjudicate the claims on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left shoulder, left wrist, or right wrist disabilities. The evidence does not support service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and has continued since. The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was aggravated by service, as evidenced by significant threshold shifts in his audiometric results from before and after service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service complaints of back pain. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has found that there is no current left ankle, right ankle, or right shoulder disability and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for various service-connected disabilities has been withdrawn. The Veteran is now granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) from June 29, 2010 to February 26, 2013.