Shoulder decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected impingement syndrome of the right shoulder has been rated at 10 percent since July 11, 2012. The current rating is appropriate based on limitation of motion to shoulder level.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current bilateral shoulder disability, right upper arm disability, or back disability. The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection, and his right shoulder disorder claim was reopened but not yet decided.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability of DJD and left shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are due to injuries sustained in service. The issues of increased rating for PTSD and TDIU remain pending.

The Veteran withdrew his applications to reopen the claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and left shoulder disorder as secondary to the service-connected cervical spine disability. The Board dismissed these issues.

The Board finds that the evidence is against a finding of a right shoulder disability causally related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected injuries from a slip and fall in the VA parking lot are not considered to be caused by VA treatment, thus denying his claim for 1151 benefits.

The Veteran's increased rating for the right shoulder injury and initial higher rating for neck pain are granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, arthritis and chronic tendonitis of the left shoulder, and lichen simplex chronicus have been granted service connection. The Veteran received a 10% disability rating for his left shoulder condition effective January 22, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for unspecified joint pain, hemorrhoids, and degenerative bone disease were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is secondary to his service-connected conditions, including major depression, failed neck syndrome with degenerative joint disease and right C-5 radiculopathy, acromioclavicular sprain of the right shoulder with Mumford procedures, right knee chondromalacia and left knee chondromalacia.

The Veteran's lung disability has been rated at 100% since June 14, 2012. The left shoulder and right knee disabilities have also received increased evaluations.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed low back, left shoulder, and left hand disabilities were not related to service and denied his claims.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to have become manifest during his active duty service and has persisted. The right shoulder disability is found to be at least as likely as not incurred or aggravated during a period of active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a current examination. The issues of entitlement to initial disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for disc protrusion of the lumbar spine and impingement and thoracic outlet syndrome of the right shoulder will be addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, diagnosed as left knee, right ankle, left ankle, bilateral hip, back, bilateral shoulder, bilateral elbow, bilateral wrist, and right knee disabilities, was aggravated beyond its natural course during his active duty.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and injuries, including heart disorder, thyroid disorder, left shoulder and elbow disorders, double hernia, PTSD, right and left knee disorders. The case is being remanded for further action regarding the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's joint pain and neurological disorder are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a chronic disability present during or within one year after his military service. The symptoms have been attributed to non-service-related causes.

The Veteran's request to reduce his disability rating for his right shoulder condition from 30% to 10% was denied. The left shoulder condition is rated at 30%, effective September 11, 2007. The right thumb condition does not warrant a compensable rating.