Shoulder decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected conditions did not warrant a higher rating or additional service connection. The scar of the left parietal area of the scalp, while present, did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus in his right ear and granted a 20 percent rating for degenerative facet joint L5-S1 with bulge, lordosis, and spondylosis (back condition). The other issues were not addressed as the appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Board has scheduled a Travel Board hearing for the Veteran. However, due to inclement weather and lack of transportation, the Veteran was unable to attend the previously scheduled hearing. The case is now being returned to the RO to reschedule the hearing.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 20% disability rating for his service-connected left shoulder strain with chronic multi-directional instability, effective September 1, 2009. However, further development is needed to determine if a new VA examination is required due to changes in symptoms since the last examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, diagnosed as glenohumeral arthritis, was aggravated by service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to his service, including as a result of an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder degenerative changes and impingement are likely related to his in-service supraspinatus tendonitis, granting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent since the grant of service connection, but does not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for any of his claimed conditions, and there is no evidence to support service connection for these disorders.

The Veteran's claims for a higher initial rating for his right shoulder disability and for derivative TDIU have been remanded due to the need for further development, including additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, which is currently rated as 20 percent disabling under DC 5201, has been found to warrant a higher rating of 30 percent due to limitation of motion to midway between the side and shoulder level. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating of 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disorder is causally related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his right shoulder disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder was not present in service or until many years thereafter and is not related to service or to an incident of service origin, including to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for fatigue, joint pain with muscle aches (other than disability of the bilateral ankles), and sleep apnea due to undiagnosed illness. The evidence received since the September 1997 rating decision raises a reasonable probability of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's claims for glaucoma, left shoulder bursitis, and diabetes mellitus were denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or within the presumptive period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and a need for clarifying opinions regarding his left shoulder and left knee disorders.