Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of left ulnar nerve decompression surgery and a current left shoulder disorder, but denied the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral and left upper extremity disorders. The decision is based on the evidence showing no direct link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this.

The Veteran's left shoulder acromioclavicular arthritis and cervical strain are rated at 20 percent each, effective as of the date of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability was denied as the evidence does not show that his current condition is related to military service or a service-connected disability.,Claims for increased ratings and effective dates were also denied due to lack of factual ascertainability within one year of the September 29, 2004 claim.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased rating for right shoulder degenerative joint disease and service connection for a right knee disorder before the Board issued its decision. The remaining issues of service connection for bilateral foot disorders and recognition of D.B. as a helpless child are being remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including post-traumatic osteoarthritis, is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 20 percent. A separate 20 percent rating for limitation of motion of the right arm has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck, back, hip, shoulder, and knee disabilities are not related to his military service, including a motor vehicle accident in service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent disability rating for his left shoulder disability was granted from September 1, 2008 to March 20, 2014. From March 20, 2014, the Veteran is now rated at a higher 20 percent.,The Veteran's right Achilles tendonitis has been rated as 10 percent disabling for the entire rating period on appeal.,The Veteran's left Achilles tendonitis has been rated as 10 percent disabling for the entire rating period on appeal.,The Veteran's status post perforated nasal septum with allergic rhinitis is rated at 30 percent, the maximum disability rating available.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. The claim of service connection for a right ankle disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. Service connection for tinnitus is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to clarify whether the service-connected left shoulder strain required him to undergo the November 2009 surgery and if so, whether it caused or aggravated the disability that necessitated the surgery.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and right shoulder strain were not service-connected.,PTSD was granted at 70% effective September 28, 2011. The reduction of prostate cancer from 100% to 20% in April 2010 and then to 40% in September 2012 was found proper.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability prior to October 31, 2009 was denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for erectile dysfunction and special monthly compensation were not granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for congenital low back and pelvic disability, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran's claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records. The issue of an initial compensable rating for his service-connected scar, status post excision of leiomyosarcoma of the left shoulder, will be re-adjudicated.

The case is being remanded due to the inextricability of the TDIU claim with the left shoulder disability and 1151 claims. The Veteran's TDIU claim will be reconsidered after resolving these other issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right and left shoulders.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if any current disabilities of the Veteran's shoulders, arms, back, legs, and other joints are related to military service or caused by his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder and right distal fibula fracture residuals have been rated at 20 percent each, meeting the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran's representative, and the claim is now pending for further review.

The Veteran's claims for initial evaluations of his service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development.