Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is the result of service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression secondary to a service-connected condition was granted. However, his claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to a service-connected condition was denied.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 80%, meeting the schedular requirements for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. However, he is currently employed in a stable IT job and has successfully completed his associate's degree, indicating that his service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right and left shoulders is being remanded due to a scheduling issue. The hearing has been scheduled, but no date or time has been provided yet.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, which affects his dominant upper extremity, has manifested with pain and weakness. At its worst, the range of motion is at the shoulder level. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating than 20 percent.

The Veteran's right shoulder DJD has been rated at 30 percent since November 7, 2016. Prior to that date, the disability was rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and right shoulder disability are related to his service, with aggravation during active duty. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in the form of clarification regarding the Veteran's hearing loss evaluation and a medical opinion on the etiology of his left shoulder disability. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied as there is no current diagnosis and the condition did not manifest during service.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral pes planus was denied as there is no current diagnosis and the condition did not manifest during service.,The Veteran's claim for a shoulder disorder was denied as there is no current diagnosis and the condition did not manifest during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected right shoulder dislocation were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5202.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral shoulder disability did not manifest in service or for many years thereafter and is unrelated to his in-service shoulder treatment.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder and TDIU due to lack of evidence showing the condition was incurred in or aggravated by service, as well as insufficient evidence linking it to any service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and right shoulder disability. Service connection was denied for ingrown toenails.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's low back disability as it is considered to be directly related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD was granted, with the effective date set at the date of receipt of his reopened claim on February 2, 2009.,Both right shoulder and lower back disabilities were reopened based on new evidence submitted since the January 2007 rating decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent from May 1, 2010, to April 14, 2015, for residuals of left shoulder AC joint separation with degenerative AC joint disease.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder strain did not necessitate the November 2009 surgery, and therefore he is not entitled to a temporary total rating for convalescence.

The Veteran's left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis is rated at 20 percent since September 12, 2012.,The Veteran's lumbar disc bulge and stenosis are rated at 20 percent since September 12, 2012.

The Board found no evidence of a current left shoulder disability related to service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for both left shoulder and right elbow disabilities.

The Veteran's combined rating for her service-connected disabilities is 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on schedular ratings. The Board finds that she is capable of securing and following substantially gainful employment due to her education, work experience, and medical findings.