Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's major depressive disorder with PTSD and alcohol abuse, but granted a TDIU based on his combined disability ratings. The case is being remanded to address the left shoulder condition and cervical spine issue.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the service connection claims for left and right shoulder disabilities before a decision was made by the Board.

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, a right hand disability, and a skin disorder (including eczema).,Service connection is also not granted for hypertension or a right knee disability.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and right shoulder tendinitis were found to not warrant a rating in excess of the currently assigned 20 percent ratings. The left shoulder tendinitis was also found to not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his claims related to right shoulder, bilateral hip and ankle disorders, and a right foot disorder. The rating for the fracture of the left fifth metatarsal remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to an inadequate August 2015 medical examination. The case will be returned for a new opinion that addresses all claimed in-service events, including lifting boxes and MVA.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to outstanding VA treatment records and unscannable documents. The cervical spine disability claim is also being remanded for a new opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have produced total occupational impairment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for a scar on the left upper arm/shoulder has been denied, and his claim for an increased rating of residuals from a shell fragment wound to the left shoulder is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete medical records. The main reasons for remanding are for new examinations, especially concerning the lumbar spine and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is not related to service and did not manifest within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's cervical spine or neck disability is not related to service and did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals to establish clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the June 1997 and July 2007 RO rating decisions that denied service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease and bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, respectively. The claims were based on direct service connection without any presumption or secondary relationship.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal of the issues regarding service connection for left shoulder and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol and cannabis abuse is rated at a 70 percent disability rating since March 21, 2011.,Service connection for left shoulder strain and tendinitis, right shoulder strain and tendinitis, and lumbar strain are granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for right shoulder disability and acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's right shoulder condition may be related to service, but a VA examination is needed to confirm this. For his psychiatric disorder, an additional examination is required as the current one did not consider all stressors reported by the Veteran.

The Veteran's left shoulder impingement syndrome has been rated at 10 percent since March 2013. The Board finds that additional development is required due to possible worsening of the condition and remands the case for further examination.

The Board has denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and insomnia due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred during active duty. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 27, 2012 for the award of service connection for right shoulder full thickness tear of supraspinatus tendon is denied. The earliest possible effective date allowed by law is August 27, 2012.

The Board denied initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for bilateral shoulder disabilities, lumbar strain, degenerative disc disease (cervical spine), chondromalacia of the left knee, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, and right ankle disability. The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant higher ratings based on limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip and right shoulder disabilities, as well as a compensable rating for gastric ulcer status-post vagotomy. The case will be remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.