Shoulder decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are inextricably intertwined and must be addressed together. The case is therefore being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence, including records of any testing or evaluation conducted to address whether the Veteran suffers from a rheumatologic disease.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and bilateral shoulder conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied both claims.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, post-arthroscopy, has been rated at 30 percent since March 1, 2011. The current evaluation reflects intermediate degrees of residual weakness and pain with limited motion.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, vision loss, athlete's foot, stomach disorder, right shoulder disorder, and low back disorder has been withdrawn.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left shoulder disorder and a back disorder, including as due to his left shoulder disorder. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical records and provide the Veteran with an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule him for appropriate VA examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected right shoulder disorder and hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for left elbow, low back, and left shoulder disabilities. As such, these claims remain denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, characterized by fusion of the acromioclavicular joint, does not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for arthritis of major joints other than the knees is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 8, 2005 for the award of a 20% disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disorder and has also granted entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disorder secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent from June 16, 2006 to January 4, 2010. Since then, the rating has been denied.,For his lumbar spine disability, a 10 percent rating has been assigned throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to evaluate the complete nature and severity of his service-connected post-operative residuals of dislocations of the left shoulder. The case will also be readjudicated with consideration of whether separate ratings are warranted based on muscle injury or neurological conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues that had been remanded by the Board, including service connection claims and a higher evaluation for PTSD.

The Board has determined that another VA examination is needed to determine the nature, extent and etiology of any right hip disorder or multiple joint arthritis currently present. The Veteran's claim for service connection will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran has a depressive disorder with fatigue that is as likely as not caused by service-connected ulcerative colitis with pouchitis and ankylosing spondylitis. The Board finds reasonable doubt in favor of the claim, granting service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA clinical records and scheduling an examination to address the etiology of any current bilateral knee and shoulder disorders.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right elbow disability, pharyngitis, low back disability, left shoulder disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran's claims for hypertension (secondary to sleep apnea), right foot disorder, and bowel and bladder impairment were also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, finding that none were incurred or aggravated by his military service and that any current disabilities are not related to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder and elbow disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the left arm.