Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Board has granted an extension to February 9, 2012 for a temporary total rating based on post-surgical convalescence following the Veteran's right shoulder surgery in September 2011.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent effective July 10, 2015. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence supports a higher rating than 20 percent for his right shoulder disability.

The Board found no evidence of a current right shoulder disability that is directly related to service or service-connected left knee disability, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's rib disorder is not service connected, but his left shoulder disability has been granted a higher initial rating.,His left shoulder disability now receives a 30 percent rating based on significant limitation of motion during flare-ups.

The Board has granted service connection for bronchiectasis due to her service-connected asthma and COPD. The Veteran's other claims have been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to newly associated evidence, including VA treatment records and examination reports.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is not related to service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left shoulder, right shoulder, or left hip disorder and that these conditions did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation. Therefore, service connection for these disorders is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the Veteran's right shoulder and left knee disabilities, specifically addressing a fall during active duty for training in March 2003.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings and increased rating issues, as well as his claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, were granted. His combined disability rating is now at 80 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA). The claims are being returned for further development, including obtaining additional service records and providing a supplemental VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing. Service connection for left shoulder disability and vision disability (refractive error) remains on appeal.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred or aggravated in service. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of prostate cancer.,VA examinations have been conducted to determine the etiology of the Veteran's back disorder, hypertension, colon cancer, and arthritis of multiple joints. Further examination is needed to provide an adequate medical opinion on these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected osteomyelitis of the left humerus is currently inactive with no evidence of active infection. His degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, however, limits his forward flexion to 140 degrees and abduction to 150 degrees, warranting a noncompensable rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is not related to service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability and right shoulder disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found no evidence of a current left shoulder disorder related to service, including the 1958 injury during parachute jumps. The examiner concluded that any current condition is not related to service.

The Veteran's current left shoulder disability, diagnosed as arthritis, is considered to have had its onset during service and continues since then. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.