Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right hand, shoulder, hip, and knee disabilities due to incomplete development in the August and September 2017 VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations. The issues include service connection for exercise-induced asthma, increased disability ratings for right shoulder rotator cuff tear, uterine fibroids with menorrhagia, umbilical hernia repair, and migraine headaches.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and heart disability, as there is no evidence of these conditions during the pendency of his claim. The Board has also found that new examinations are necessary to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine and headache disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability, sleep apnea, and enlarged heart due to new and material evidence. The claim for service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports, specifically lacking passive range of motion findings and not specifying whether the results are weight-bearing or nonweight-bearing. A new examination is necessary.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, a right shoulder condition, and left arm and hand conditions. However, the evidence received since the October 2007 denial does not provide sufficient material to support the Veteran's contentions that his current conditions were caused by service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 10 percent, and his left knee disability is also rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.,Service connection for a right shoulder disability cannot be established as there is no in-service injury or disease found.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability warrants a rating of 40 percent, and his left shoulder disability warrants a rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability and bilateral hearing loss were both denied as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Board denied a separate disability rating for the service-connected right shoulder disability, finding that assigning such a rating would constitute prohibited pyramiding of compensation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his right shoulder disability or entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left shoulder condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, right ankle disability, restless leg syndrome, diabetes mellitus, Type II, and narcolepsy were denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or a link to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted. The effective dates are April 14, 2009.

The Veteran's left arm and back chemical burn scars are rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under DC 7801.,Prior to November 6, 2015, the acquired psychiatric disorder was rated at 50 percent. After that date, it has been rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and right shoulder disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal on all issues, including the ones related to hyperuricemia, bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus, chest palpitations, status post nasal fracture, sinusitis, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and internal hemorrhoids.

The Veteran was found unemployable from August 29, 2011 to September 30, 2015 due to the combined effects of his service-connected PTSD and sleep apnea. His combined disability rating for these conditions is 80 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for recurrent dislocation of the right shoulder was granted, with a temporary total evaluation extended until July 8, 2015. The claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability secondary to his right shoulder condition is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board found no evidence of a service connection for the claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, cervical spine disorder, left shoulder disability, or bilateral hearing loss disability.,All three disabilities were not shown to be related to military service.