Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's GERD and right shoulder disorder are service-connected, but the residuals of head injury claim is denied. The bilateral eye disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, tinnitus, a cervical spine disorder, a left shoulder disorder, and a bilateral hip disorder. The evidence did not establish direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's hair loss, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, back disability, and left shoulder disability have been granted service connection. The rating for tinnitus has also been granted at a maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability and PTSD do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to inadequate previous evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, contact dermatitis, TBI residuals, gastrointestinal disorder, PTSD, shoulder disorders, hemorrhoids, cervical spine disability, migraine headaches, vision loss, testosterone imbalance, wrist and hand disorders, hip disorders, and insomnia are all remanded. Additionally, his claim for an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, a residual head injury scar, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss is also remanded. His TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including hypertension, contact dermatitis, TBI, and gastrointestinal disorders. The Veteran also had his TDIU claim remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral shoulder, wrist, and hand/finger disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment as of September 8, 2015. The Board has remanded the issues of higher ratings for his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional evaluations due to the lack of compliance with Correia and Sharp requirements.

The Veteran's emergency treatment for his shoulder in March 2011 was denied reimbursement because he had not received medical services under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapter 17 within the preceding 24-month period, and thus did not meet the criteria for reimbursement.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, but the right shoulder condition remains unresolved due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

Service connection is granted for left knee arthritis. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, insomnia, bilateral shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, residuals of malaria disability, and sinus disability are all remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder and an eye disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or a service-connected disability.,Service connection was not granted as there is no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder arthritis and migraine disability have been reopened. However, the Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to establish a link between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right shoulder and left knee disabilities due to their relationship with service-connected conditions. The Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service injuries are considered, as well as VA examination findings.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities, including degenerative joint disease of the shoulders, are found to be related to service. The Veteran's skin disorder is also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder has been reopened and granted. The Veteran is also granted increased ratings for PTSD, but the request for TDIU prior to March 14, 2016 remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for an extension beyond August 31, 2015 for a temporary total rating due to right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis disability following surgery was denied. The Veteran also met the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.