Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment as of July 2, 2009. The Board granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board found no evidence that the Veteran's right shoulder disability began during her active service or was related to any in-service injury, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the issue of a TDIU rating prior to August 19, 2009 due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's combined disability ratings did not meet the minimum percentage requirements for a TDIU rating at that time.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and left shoulder disability, finding no chronic conditions related to service. The Veteran's right shoulder ACJ disease is currently rated at 20 percent.,Service connection was not granted for the low back or left shoulder disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder is caused or aggravated by her service-connected cervical spine disability. The Veteran will need a new VA examination and another opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left shoulder and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to incomplete development. The Veteran's representative asserts that he is entitled to a separate rating for arthritis of the left shoulder, but this claim is not currently before the Board.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% and his right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis is rated at 20%. The Board has remanded the case for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board denies a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder impingement and right knee degenerative joint disease.,A compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is denied, as the Veteran's penis was not objectively examined to show penile deformity.

The Veteran's asthma and panic disorder with agoraphobia features, right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee chondromalacia, right shoulder rotator cuff tendinopathy, and thoracolumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease are all being remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and nausea disabilities due to lack of current diagnoses and no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, TBI, and headaches have been denied. The Board has found no evidence of a current disability in these conditions.,For the right and left knee disabilities, the Veteran is being asked to provide additional medical evidence linking his current symptoms to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU were dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for anxiety disorder on/after February 27, 2017 was denied as the severity of his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability prior to September 24, 2020 was also denied due to the presence of other service-connected disabilities that rendered him capable of obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thyroid disorder is denied as the evidence does not show that his current diagnosis of hypothyroidism began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and left shoulder conditions are also denied. The preponderance of the evidence shows no more than a 10 percent disability rating prior to January 15, 2020, and a 20 percent disability rating thereafter.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for impingement syndrome. The Veteran's eczema has been rated at 60 percent since June 22, 2016. Migraine headaches are currently rated at 50 percent effective April 1, 2009 and TBI is rated at 50 percent effective December 3, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including unspecified depressive disorder, atypical headaches with features of migraines, chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted as service-connected.,His hypertension does not warrant a compensable initial disability evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that any current condition is more likely due to wear and tear with aging.