Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for left arm tremors and service connection for melanoma, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure at the December 2014 Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for an extension of a temporary total rating beyond December 1, 2010 based on need for convalescence following his right shoulder surgery. The initial rating for his right shoulder disability remains at 20 percent.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and non-VA medical records, scheduling a new examination if necessary, and providing the Veteran with an opportunity to respond.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including consideration of new evidence and a VA examination. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again to determine if he is entitled to benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA social and industrial survey to assess employment capacity and a VA examination by a physiatrist to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right shoulder, left ankle, right ankle, hypertension, bilateral foot plantar fasciitis with left first metatarsophalangeal joint degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder all had their respective initial rating evaluations determined to be inadequate.

The Veteran's right shoulder and knee disabilities have been rated based on their current functional limitations, with the right knee receiving a 10% rating for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted service connection, and his left ankle swelling was granted a 40% rating effective January 1, 2007. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right foot disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, left shoulder disability, and lumbar spine disability due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left shoulder subluxation was denied. The case is remanded to determine an appropriate effective date for service connection of PTSD.

The Board denied reopening claims for cervical spine and bilateral shoulder disabilities, as well as service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and numbness of the fingers. The Veteran's appeal was not successful in these matters.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the reopening of service connection claims for various conditions, and the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, prostate cancer residuals, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and other conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for sleep disorder/insomnia, right shoulder arthritis, and left shoulder arthritis prior to January 1, 2006 have been granted. The effective date of the grant is November 1, 2001.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on his left shoulder scar and shell fragment wound of the left shoulder have been withdrawn, resulting in their dismissal.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic code. The evidence does not support a higher rating as his range of motion has never been limited to 45 degrees (midway between side and shoulder level).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted. He was awarded a combined rating of 60 percent, which is the maximum available under the applicable regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to May 25, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder is not service-connected, but hypertension was found to be incurred in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand disability, knee disabilities of each knee, and shoulder disabilities of each shoulder. The evidence does not establish a current disability or link to active service.