Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetic neuropathies, and retinopathy, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a TDIU from March 29, 2011.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including tear of the infraspinatus tendon, glenohumeral joint arthritis, and rotator cuff tear post-arthroscopy, is now rated at 30 percent effective from November 30, 2001.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was denied service connection as it manifested more than one year after separation and is not shown to be causally related to an in-service injury or disease. The claims for psychiatric, heart, cervical spine, low back, bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are remanded due to the failure to obtain examinations and opinions concerning their etiology.

Effective dates of March 1, 2013, have been granted for the awards of service connection for impairment of left muscle groups II, III, and IV.,No effective date earlier than May 26, 2017, has been granted for the awards of service connection for right shoulder osteoarthritis, lumbar degenerative disc disease, or bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve dysfunction.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for left knee scarring, left knee disability, and right shoulder disability are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The VA is required to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability and a VA examination for his claimed right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD, sinusitis/rhinitis, and cardiovascular conditions, prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 30, 2008. The Board granted compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left foot skin graft residuals and TDIU benefits effective March 16, 2005.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder disabilities due to inadequate opinions and failure to address specific contentions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and requests for private medical records. The Veteran's representative acknowledged that there are no associated medical records in the file.

The claim for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected vertigo is dismissed.,The claim for an effective date earlier than May 1, 2015, for service-connected tinnitus is denied. The earliest date on which service connection for tinnitus may be effective is May 1, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine the etiology and nature of the Veteran's lung cancer, metastatic malignant melanoma, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma. The VA examiner is asked to provide opinions on whether the Veteran's exposure to herbicides directly caused his cancers, contributed to his death, or was a cause or contributing factor.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher disability rating for his left shoulder condition before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's herpes does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if his rhinitis, left shoulder disability, and right hip disability are service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to August 19, 2009 is being remanded due to the need for additional records and further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is related to an injury sustained during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for service connection for the cause of death was also denied.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not establish that any of these conditions were related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a direct relationship between the claimed conditions and service, or any other compensable basis.,The effective date for service connection has been granted for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea condition, as well as to assess the current severity of his left shoulder rotator cuff syndrome with degenerative arthritis. The Veteran is seeking service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an increased evaluation for his shoulder disability.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's left shoulder disability and also denied entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The left shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent, which is the highest schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5201. The Veteran was found not to meet the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand, right knee, left knee, and left shoulder disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and a hypertension claim. The Veteran's migraine headaches, arm disability, and other disabilities are being reviewed again due to new evidence.