Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU due to outstanding records and additional evidentiary development, including a VA examination of his left shoulder disability under both old and new rating criteria.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from December 30, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar spine disability, left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral shoulders, knees, left hand, and wrist, right knee, left knee, left hand wrist degenerative joint disease, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction, preclude substantially gainful employment from June 17, 2008. Therefore, a TDIU is granted for this period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and a right thigh muscle injury, finding that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Veteran was not granted any compensation rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for right shoulder disability, right elbow epicondylitis, and right arm disability have been granted. The conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis has been evaluated as noncompensable since April 2014 and entitlement to a compensable evaluation did not arise until October 2020.

The Veteran's claim for a respiratory disability other than service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and chronic laryngitis has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder disabilities have also been denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder condition and an acquired psychiatric condition, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder condition and cervical strain, but dismissed the issue of service connection for a lung condition. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to higher initial ratings for his service-connected right shoulder disability and entitlement to a TDIU due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's left shoulder disability, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran was also granted TDIU status.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection. Service connection for left shoulder disability and cervical spine disability are denied, while lumbar spine disability and lower left extremity radiculopathy have been assigned a rating of 40%.

For the appeal period prior to July 13, 2017, the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.,For the appeal period from July 13, 2017, the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder results in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent since October 1, 2013, and therefore, the criteria for SMC based on housebound status were not met.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and right hand disabilities. Additionally, the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his patellofemoral pain syndrome of both knees have also been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient development and consideration of the Veteran's statements regarding his in-service injuries. The issues are now pending for further review.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was granted a rating of 40 percent effective August 22, 2019. The previous period from April 28, 2017 to August 21, 2019 had a rating of 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are granted for left ear hearing loss, headaches secondary to PTSD, GERD with Barrett's esophagus, and a deviated septum. The claim for right ear hearing loss is denied. Service connection is also granted for a left shoulder disability and asthma. Other issues remain pending.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, bilateral hip osteoarthritis, and right shoulder osteoarthritis as the evidence does not support a nexus to service.

The Veteran's right shoulder tendonitis and neck strain with arthritis have not been rated higher than the current 20% disability ratings.,For PVCs, the Veteran has had a range of ratings from noncompensable to 30%, but her condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating.