Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone, preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify.

The Veteran is seeking compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability of the left shoulder due to surgery in June 1996 and post-operative care by VA. The case has been remanded due to a discrepancy regarding quality assurance records/focused review.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the representative requested to withdraw all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA examinations and treatment records, and to address the issues of service connection for chronic low back pain, bilateral pes planus, GERD, and left shoulder scars.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to additional relevant evidence submitted since the December 2012 Statement of the Case. The case will be adjudicated again by the RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate examinations for his right shoulder disability, left foot plantar fasciitis with heel spur, and right foot plantar fasciitis. He will need new VA examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability of sufficient severity to constitute a disability for VA compensation purposes. The Board finds that the evidence does not support the claim for service connection and there is no doubt to be resolved.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to his failure to appear for a VA examination, and now requests another examination to determine the current level of his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right shoulder disability had its onset in service and grants service connection for a right shoulder disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder and right forearm disabilities are not related to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease is granted service connection. The status of his left shoulder condition remains pending as the Board has not determined whether it is caused or aggravated by his cervical spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability and denied the claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's left shoulder disability is presumed to have been incurred in combat, while his hearing loss remains unassigned.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right arm with brachial plexus and residual right median neuropathy is denied. The Board finds that his disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's hypertension, migraines, and other service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or extraschedular evaluation. The Board denied his claim of entitlement to TDIU prior to September 10, 2010.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 19, 2009 for the award of a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been granted. He is now entitled to a 10 percent evaluation for his left knee degenerative arthritis, effective from April 1, 2006.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was restored to a 30 percent rating, effective September 9, 2010. The RO proposed reducing the rating from 30 percent to 20 percent based on February 2012 VA examination results.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his right and left arm disabilities, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability was not caused or aggravated by his military service or his service-connected left knee disability, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his left shoulder disability with prosthetic implant, have caused loss of use of his left hand. The Board finds that the criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment are met.