Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for right shoulder disability and has determined that new evidence received since the January 1993 rating decision supports a finding of service connection.,Service connection is also granted for right shoulder injury residuals, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's shoulder disability. The issues of service connection for degenerative arthritis, right shoulder, and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for carpal tunnel syndrome in the right hand are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that his claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for additional examinations. The claims will be reconsidered after these issues are addressed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of the record.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, effective December 4, 2012.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service for left foot pes planus, low back disability, or left shoulder disability. The Veteran's complaints and diagnoses were not linked to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional information is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including for his bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disability. The case is therefore REMANDED.

The Veteran's adhesive capsulitis, right shoulder, with history of recurrent dislocation is currently rated at 40 percent. The Board finds no basis for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board finds that the reductions in the ratings for the service-connected right shoulder disability and right shoulder scar were proper. The Veteran's increased rating claims are denied as her conditions do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities have not met the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for review of additional evidence, including treatment records and a Gulf War examination. The AOJ should obtain addendum opinions addressing the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and allergic rhinitis claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the appellant's right shoulder disability, characterized by arthritis and limitation of motion, warrants a 20 percent rating since July 17, 2008.

The Veteran's recurrent dislocation of the left shoulder is currently rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board also found that the Veteran's service-connected disability does not prevent her from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left shoulder conditions did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims of service connection for back, neck, and left shoulder disabilities. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder condition is not related to his service-connected recurrent pilonidal cyst, and thus does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection. The other issues have also been denied.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which combined are at least 40% disabling and prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's DJD of the left shoulder was not incurred in service and is not related to his military service.,The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's bilateral posterior calcaneal spurs are less likely than not caused by his in-service right ankle injuries.