Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate notice of a scheduled compensation examination.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective July 7, 2014, based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is found to be aggravated by service, and his current psychiatric disability is related to service.,Service connection for a right shoulder disability and a psychiatric disability are both granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left shoulder disability and bilateral knee condition. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for right arm, right shoulder, and neck disabilities. The preponderance of the evidence does not show a relationship between any current diagnoses and service.

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of April 24, 2012 for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran is also entitled to an effective date of April 24, 2012 for DEA benefits as he was granted a total disability rating on that same date.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was granted a 20% rating effective March 23, 2015. The Board found that the evidence showed entitlement to this rating prior to that date.

The Board found that the Veteran's myofascial pain syndrome and arch disability were not related to his service-connected disabilities, including his right ankle condition. The conditions are considered secondary to these service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine, left shoulder, and chest disorders are related to his active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA) service. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Substantive Appeal for an increased rating for his left shoulder disability was timely filed, and therefore grants this portion of his appeal. The claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and for an increased rating for his left shoulder disability are being remanded to further develop the record.

The Veteran's temporary total disability rating for convalescence following left shoulder surgery is granted from December 1, 2012 to February 3, 2013.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, following a hemiarthroplasty in May 2011, is currently rated at 50 percent. The appeal for a higher rating has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.,His current rating for diabetes mellitus remains at 20% due to the absence of a regulation of activities.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to address whether her right shoulder and cervical spine disorders are related to service or caused by her service-connected TMJS.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current disability does not meet the criteria set forth in VA regulations. The Board found that his right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities were rated appropriately, but noted that his lumbar spine disability did not warrant a rating higher than 40 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various joint conditions, including degenerative arthritis of the back, neck, shoulders, knees, hips, ankles, and elbows/arms are granted. The specific diagnoses include PTSD, right ankle condition, degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, bilateral knee conditions, bilateral hip conditions, bilateral ankle conditions, and a left elbow/arm condition.

The Board has dismissed the service connection claim for TBI and denied the service connection claims for psychiatric disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability. The remaining issues are REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for further verification of periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).