Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's asthma, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, and depression), back disability, cervical spine disability, heart disability, bilateral ankle disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral shoulder disability are not service connected. The Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss were found to be aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint conditions and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea and TBI. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, neck disorder, tinnitus, left shoulder disorder, hypertension, low back disorder, and erectile dysfunction are all found to be related to his military service. Service connection is also granted for the extension of a temporary total evaluation due to right shoulder surgery.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 60 percent for right patella, service connection for left shoulder arthritis disability, and service connection for glucose intolerance (claimed as diabetes mellitus) were all denied by the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting his claim for TDIU.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for a respiratory condition, including lung disability and bronchial asthma. The Veteran's new evidence includes VA and private treatment records indicating current respiratory or lung disorders and his assertion that he was treated for pneumonia while in service.

The Board has determined that service connection for a right shoulder disability, including arthritis and impingement syndrome, is warranted.,Service connection was also granted for the Veteran's left foot dorsum minor strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year thereafter. The left shoulder degenerative joint disease was found to be aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability.,Service connection for left shoulder degenerative joint disease has been granted on the basis that it was aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including persistent depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. The Veteran's tinea versicolor was rated at a 10 percent disability rating effective November 1, 2010.

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

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed left shoulder disorder and therefore is not entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's right shoulder disability is due to his military service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability based on substitution.

The Board has found that the Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease are service connected, with the latter being secondary to the former. The claims for higher ratings of his ankle and spine disabilities have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to outstanding records and additional development is needed.

The Board found that the May 1946 rating decision was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and there were no material records received after the initial decision to warrant an earlier effective date. The Veteran's claim for service connection for his right shoulder disability was denied based on the absence of residuals from a previous in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records. The right shoulder disability rating issue will be addressed again after the additional development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the increased ratings for PTSD, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability before a decision was made.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a Veteran with examinations to determine the nature and cause of any right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, back disability, heart disability, hemorrhoids, and acquired psychiatric disability.