Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's right shoulder impairment and cervical spondylosis with degenerative changes have been rated, but the right shoulder rating is less than the maximum under applicable criteria.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar strain and a left knee condition, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder), left knee disability, right knee disability, and lumbar spine disability. The evidence supports that these conditions began in active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression is withdrawn. The claim for a compensable rating for hypertension is granted, with an initial evaluation of 10%. Service connection for alcoholism and right shoulder disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's son, J.K., is recognized as a helpless child due to permanent incapacity for self-support before his 18th birthday. The Veteran's neck disorder and right shoulder and elbow disorders are not service connected.

The Board has remanded the claims due to outstanding VA treatment records and will consider additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and severity of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for nerve damage as secondary to prostate cancer with radical prostatectomy. The April 2013 VA examination opinion concluded that the Veteran's diagnosed nerve condition is less likely than not related to his service connected disability of residuals, prostate cancer with radical prostatectomy and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder and elbow tendinitis are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is rated at 20 percent prior to May 12, 2014 and at 40 percent thereafter. The right foot gout and TDIU issues are granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his satisfaction with the decision granting service connection for a psychiatric disorder and assigning a 50 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy was incurred during service and is granted as service connection. However, further examination is needed to determine if any other right shoulder disability is related to service or any other service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability ratings for lumbosacral strain and right shoulder strain was granted, with effective dates set at August 23, 2016.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a right shoulder condition that he claims was aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability. The Board has directed the VA to obtain an opinion regarding whether the pre-existing right shoulder condition worsened during service and if so, whether it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disability as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder, low back, and right knee disabilities. The issue of service connection for neuropathy of the left upper extremity is also granted.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of a left shoulder disorder and bilateral hearing loss due to his withdrawal during the December 2017 hearing. The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and concluded that any pre-existing hearing loss did not worsen during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left shoulder disability is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is granted for a temporary 100% disability rating from August 1, 2016 to August 1, 2017. The claim of entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for left shoulder, status-post prosthetic joint replacement from August 1, 2017 is denied. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, migraine headache disability, acid reflux, left elbow disability, low back disability, right hand disability, and right shoulder disability. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of these conditions and that they were not related to service.