Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left shoulder arthritis are related to service, thus granting the claims for service connection.

For the period prior to February 26, 2009, the Veteran's PTSD symptoms more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. A 50 percent rating was granted effective February 26, 2009.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent since the grant of service connection. The appeal for a higher initial evaluation was denied as there is no evidence that the current rating adequately reflects the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, characterized by painful motion and without ankylosis or other severe impairment, warrants a 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed stomach, shoulder, elbow, hip, wrist, knee, and asthma disorders are not etiologically related to his active duty service, including service during the Persian Gulf War. As a result, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder SLAP tear is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran has withdrawn his claims for service connection for an upper back disability and a left shoulder disability, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these issues.

The Board dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran's death, as they have become moot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions have not warranted an increased rating in any of the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a combined rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including examinations of his service-connected left shoulder bursitis and right hip degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's low back disability has been granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent, effective from November 13, 2012. The issues regarding headaches, neck disorder, right shoulder disability, and sinusitis have also been granted service connection based on secondary to a pre-existing condition (depressive disorder).

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current left wrist and right shoulder disabilities to his time in service.,The preponderance of the evidence is against the claims for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a causal relationship between the Veteran's skin cancer and his service, including herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating higher than 20 percent for left shoulder posttraumatic osteoarthritis and frozen shoulder syndrome has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's low back disorder and joint pain have been granted service connection.,Service connection has been established for left shoulder, lumbar spine, left hip, right thigh, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and experience prior to July 31, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, secondary to his service-connected left elbow disability, was denied. His PTSD claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not resulted in permanent and total disability that would qualify him for specially adapted housing or home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's combined rating is 50 percent, and the Board finds that his service-connected disabilities alone are enough to prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. Therefore, the claim for a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development and examination to determine if the Veteran's shoulder and knee disabilities are related to his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a left shoulder disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of nexus between these conditions and service.