Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of gainful employment consistent with his educational background and occupational experience, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current eye or shoulder disability related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability was received, but denied the underlying de novo issue of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examination reports and insufficient reasoning in previous decisions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical opinions and records. The issues include rating the right shoulder disorder, evaluating bilateral knee disorders, determining service connection for left hip, right ankle, and neck disorders, and seeking service connection for a sleep disorder.

The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any current or chronic conditions related to the issues on appeal. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability, right wrist strain, right knee disability, staphylococcus infection, and left calf tear. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was not reopened, as no new and material evidence was submitted within one year of the denial. Similarly, the claim for headache syndrome was also not reopened. However, the claim for a skin disability was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of his right shoulder disability was denied, as the evidence did not show limitation of motion to midway between the side and shoulder level. The issues of service connection for a back disability and TDIU were also addressed but are remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU, with his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found no evidence of hemorrhoids during service and denied the Veteran's claims for arthritis, left knee pain, plantar bone spurs, right thumb disability, and little finger or third finger disability. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 50 percent, the maximum allowable rating under Diagnostic Code 5201. The Board also granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by a dislocation of the acromioclavicular joint and distal clavicle resection, has been rated at 20 percent. The Board determined that a higher rating of 30 percent is warranted based on limitation of motion to 60 degrees from the side with additional pain after repetitive testing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as his combined rating is 80 percent. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of unemployability solely due to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a scar of the right lower leg is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran incurred a scar during active duty and it is related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's left shoulder disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted based on in-service acoustic trauma exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new examination. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an effective date prior to May 27, 2011 were denied as it was not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's disabilities had increased within one year of his claim.,VA received notification of the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) award in June 2011. The SSA decision did not consider all service-connected disabilities, and thus, VA determined that an effective date prior to May 27, 2011 for TDIU was granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left shoulder condition was neither incurred in nor related to service, and therefore denies her claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of left shoulder disability and granted it, finding that his current condition is related to his active service. The issue of secondary psychiatric disability due to left shoulder disability was not decided as there were insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was not found to warrant an increased rating beyond the current 20 percent, and his TDIU claim is pending.