Shoulder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including panic disorder with agoraphobia and bilateral tinnitus, made him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of October 6, 2014. The effective date for the grant of TDIU is set at October 18, 2015.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% rating. The Veteran also meets the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee and left shoulder disabilities, but the issues of service connection for nocturia, right eyebrow laceration, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder condition, lower back condition, and neck condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of additional dependent compensation for his spouse is granted, with the effective date set at March 1, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a left leg injury and a disability manifested by diarrhea and vomiting are dismissed as there is no controversy at issue.,Service connection for right shoulder osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tear, and biceps tendinitis is denied due to lack of evidence showing the conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of muscle removal/damage, right side abdomen/stomach with surgical scar removed and transplanted to service-connected left calf.,The Board also denied service connection for a left shoulder condition. The low back condition was remanded due to the need for further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder, left hip disorder, low back disorder, and right shoulder disorder have been granted. The claim for gastritis with mild duodenitis is remanded.,Service connection has been established for sinusitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, leading to the grant of TDIU. The cases for increased ratings for right shoulder condition and PTSD with depressive disorder are remanded due to lack of recent medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased rating for radiculopathy, left upper extremity and an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for radiculopathy, left upper extremity. The service connection claims for left shoulder strain and back disability are also being remanded.

The Veteran's request for higher ratings for his lower extremity radiculopathies and lumbar spine disability is remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability is denied as the evidence does not show that motion in the right shoulder has been limited to midway between the side and shoulder level, or more.,A separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability is granted effective from November 27, 2018; a rating in excess of 10 percent for instability and limitation of motion is denied.,A separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability is granted effective from November 27, 2018; a rating in excess of 10 percent for instability and limitation of motion is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease with rotator cuff tendonitis, right elbow osteoarthritis, and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome as these conditions are found to be aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right hand ulnar styloid fracture with degenerative arthritis of the carpal bones.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and neck disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for Left Shoulder Disability, Right Shoulder Disability, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for Lumbar Sprain. The eligibility for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disorders due to insufficient examination findings and lack of noise exposure assessment.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, which is service-connected, required surgery necessitating a 6-week convalescence period. The Board has granted a temporary total disability rating for this condition from August 23, 2017 to October 4, 2017.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition, low back condition, bilateral pes planus, left foot hallux valgus, left lower extremity shin splints, PTSD, and adjustment disorder with depressed mood due to new and material evidence.,Service connection is remanded for these conditions as further development may be required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and for further development, including obtaining his separation medical history and examination report.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and diabetes mellitus have been granted service connection. The Veteran's right shoulder, left shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities are denied as not related to service.