Shoulder decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder is service-connected, but his right hip disorder is not. The evidence supports a finding of in-service injury to the right shoulder and current diagnosis of right shoulder strain, while there is no indication of any right hip condition during or after service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder and left shoulder conditions, are rated at a combined 90 percent. The Board finds that these disabilities render the Veteran unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the record, including obtaining legible copies of Fort Drum records and scheduling VA examinations. The claim will be reviewed to determine if service connection can be granted.

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the left shoulder has not been manifested by limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side, ankylosis of the scapulohumeral articulation, or impairment of the humerus. Therefore, his claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of right shoulder, right knee, left knee, bilateral eye disorder, right ear hearing loss, and sinusitis has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings and service connection claims. The gunshot wound residuals of the right shoulder with involvement of Muscle Group III are currently rated at 30 percent, while the other conditions have been addressed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, and service connection claims for a right shoulder disability, a lumbar spine disability, a cervical spine disability, and tinnitus.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left shoulder disorder, which he contends is related to an injury in service. The Board has remanded the case for further development and clarification of the nature and etiology of any current left shoulder disorders.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, left knee, or right knee as there is no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within one year thereafter and it is not shown to be causally related to any incident of service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is not related to service, and denied his claim for service connection. The neck/cervical spine issue will be remanded for further examination.

The Board found no evidence of a right shoulder disability that is separate and distinct from the service-connected bilateral thoracic outlet syndrome and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's current right shoulder disability, if present, does not meet the criteria for SMC.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disorder, variously diagnosed as tendonitis and impingement.,Service connection is denied for the Veteran's claimed left knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and he was granted a compensable rating for his left shoulder disability effective April 1, 2010. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to November 12, 2005.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than July 15, 1991 for service connection are not warranted as there is no indication of a pending claim prior to this date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA treatment records and providing him with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed left shoulder disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and back disabilities, to include as secondary to service-connected knee disabilities. However, no new evidence was received within one year of the August 2005 rating decision that would establish a current disability or link it to service.

The Veteran's claims regarding the reopening of service connection for bilateral knee condition, left hip condition, and left shoulder condition are being remanded due to a request for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The criteria for an increased rating under the applicable diagnostic codes were not met.

The Veteran's service connection for multiple joint and muscle pain, including fibromyalgia, has been granted. His left cubital tunnel syndrome is rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's arthritis of the right shoulder, elbow and wrist was not incurred or aggravated during active duty. The claim for service connection is denied.