Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's increased ratings for left shoulder dislocation, left and right hand strain, low back strain, bilateral heel contusion, and tinea versicolor are remanded due to the need for VA examinations to assess current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at a 30 percent evaluation after April 1, 2018. The claim for TDIU was denied as the service-connected conditions do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was denied in January 1998 and remains denied. The Veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen the claim within one year of the denial.,For his right shoulder disability, the Veteran received a 20% rating based on limitation of motion at the shoulder level. However, he appealed for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was denied in January 1998 and remains denied. The Veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen the claim.,For his right shoulder disability, the Veteran received a 20% rating based on limitation of motion at the shoulder level.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, and she is entitled to SMC based on this need. The effective date for her entitlement to housebound status is December 11, 2013.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder, right wrist, and back disabilities secondary to a service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran's history of falls due to his weak left knee extensor mechanism is considered in determining whether these conditions are related to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his left shoulder strain is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination. The case will be reviewed and a new examination conducted.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for right shoulder strain and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Veteran received a rating of 40 percent for right shoulder strain (dominant) from January 6, 2012 onwards, but her claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine remains pending.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to withdraw his appeal for reopening of claims for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and a left shoulder strain. The claim for service connection for hemorrhoids is reopened based on new evidence received since the December 2004 rating decision. Service connection is also granted for the right foot Achilles tendon.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder disorder, bilateral eye disorder, and respiratory disorder, were denied. The Board found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact or raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability was reopened and granted.,An effective date prior to May 31, 2017, for the assignment of a 30 percent rating for ischemic optic neuropathy is being remanded.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated as 10 percent prior to April 28, 2010 and from May 1, 2011 to August 2, 2011. The rating was increased to 20 percent from August 3, 2011 to January 5, 2011 and as of August 1, 2014.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated as 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to inadequate completion of the requested development. The Veteran's left hip and right shoulder disabilities are being reviewed for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder disorders, as well as right and left knee disorders, finding no evidence of in-service onset or continuity of treatment.

The Veteran's non-service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to permanently preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds he is entitled to non-service-connected disability pension benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, arranging for an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his right shoulder disability, and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to determine the likely etiology of his cervical spine/back disability.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent for the period of December 3, 2013 to May 26, 2015 and beginning September 1, 2015. The Board finds that a higher rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted based on the evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder conditions.