Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development regarding his claims of service connection and increased ratings.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability. The Veteran's low back, bilateral hip, and left knee disabilities are being remanded for additional examination and opinion regarding their relationship to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder impingement and post SLAP Bankart repair, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability. However, the evidence does not support a finding of service connection due to lack of continuity of symptoms after service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed bilateral shoulder disability, including a lack of service treatment records and post-service medical records. The Veteran is requested to provide any available private treatment records that may be relevant to his claim.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 80 percent, which meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU. The Board finds that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities and grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her separated left shoulder was denied as the evidence did not show that her disability more nearly approximated a higher rating.,Service connection for a cervical spine disorder and psychiatric disorders (depression) were both denied as there is no evidence of record showing these conditions are related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective March 1, 2012. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder DJD and bursitis/tendinitis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to her active service. The ratings for right foot hallux valgus with calluses and left foot hallux valgus with calluses are also granted but no specific rating assigned due to lack of evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder and low back disabilities are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, back, and left knee disabilities. The Veteran's tension headaches are found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and a bilateral shoulder disability, finding no evidence of chronic symptoms during service or continuous symptoms since service. The Veteran's assertions were not supported by probative medical evidence.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU rating for the entire appeal period due to his service-connected disabilities, which preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has found substantial compliance with its remand directives. The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right hip disorder were not incurred or aggravated during active duty service. The claims for secondary service connection were also denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be caused by his service-connected PTSD.,Glaucoma is not found to be proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. However, it is as likely as not that glaucoma was caused by his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and right shoulder AC joint degenerative arthritis are granted. The claim for higher rating for right shoulder AC joint degenerative arthritis is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examinations and records. The issues include evaluations for various service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a lost tooth due to trauma, melanoma, and shoulder disabilities. The decision also found that new evidence did not reopen his claim of service connection for loss of a tooth due to trauma.