Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder disabilities, traumatic brain injury (TBI), cognitive disorder, NOS, and left knee disability on the basis that these conditions are proximately due to a service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficient to bring his combined rating to 90 percent, with at least one disability rated 40 percent or higher; these service-connected disabilities preclude the Veteran from maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for his service-connected left shoulder disorder has been granted, with a rating of 10 percent for limitation of motion and 20 percent for impaired humerus effective from September 30, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected left shoulder osteoarthritis and bronchial asthma, as well as a determination on whether his forearm scars are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable as of February 6, 2009, based on the combined rating and his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, personality disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision also notes that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet criteria for Total Disability Evaluation Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that additional development is required due to the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Board denied service connection for gout of the shoulder and feet as there is no competent evidence showing the presence of this condition during the period of the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder, fibromyalgia, and right shoulder strain have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder subluxation and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for the above issues, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, particularly regarding his right shoulder, left knee, and bilateral feet conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Board videoconference hearing due to his request for such. The issues on appeal include increased rating for headache, service connection for cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities, reopening of gastroenteritis and back injury claims, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bronchial asthma with OSA is granted, and his TDIU rating is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left shoulder disorders did not onset during service or are otherwise related to his active duty service, and thus denied both claims of service connection.

The Veteran's right shoulder disabilities have been evaluated based on their functional limitations, with the highest rating of 20 percent for dislocation status post anterior labral tear, right shoulder. The Veteran’s right shoulder instability has not resulted in frequent episodes of recurrent dislocation or guarding of all arm movements.,For his scars associated with his right shoulder disability, there is no evidence of painful, unstable, or malaligned joints that would warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new VA examination to determine if any current left shoulder condition is related to service. The Veteran's lumbosacral condition claim remains on appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is not related to his service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, resolving the Veteran's appeal on this issue.