Shoulder decisions — 2014

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected disability for the neck, left shoulder, low back, or right knee disorders and denied all claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic costochondritis, a hand condition, anemia, a wrist condition, arm pain, Reynaud's disease, mitral/tricuspid regurgitation, a shoulder condition, and residuals of a thyroidectomy have been dismissed. The remaining issues of service connection for sinusitis and insomnia are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability in August 2004. The Veteran did not appeal this decision, and no new and material evidence has been submitted since then.

The Veteran's post-operative right shoulder impingement syndrome is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a disability of the cervical spine and left shoulder has been dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection in a February 2014 rating decision.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his service, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions. Other claims of service connection have been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right shoulder disability, hearing disability, and other conditions. The evidence does not support a finding of nexus between these disabilities and service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right shoulder disability is granted, and his claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a right ankle fracture is also granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a lumbar spine disability and right hip disability. The Board also found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his claim of residuals of brain injury (PTSD). Additionally, the Board determined that there was no causal relationship between any of the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of acquired psychiatric disorder, shoulder disability, neck disability, low back disability, and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for service connection based on direct evidence. The Veteran did not have any relevant symptoms or diagnoses during service, and there is no competent medical opinion linking his current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for increased initial ratings for right shoulder impingement syndrome, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, left shoulder impingement syndrome, left hip trochanteric bursitis, and right hip trochanteric bursitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran did not exhibit a right shoulder disability in service, arthritis was not manifested to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service, and a right shoulder disability is not etiologically related to any injury or disease during the Veteran's active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a new theory of entitlement regarding secondary service connection for a right shoulder disability. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed with an additional VA examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and an addendum opinion. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Veteran's right shoulder acromioclavicular joint arthropathy is currently rated at 10 percent prior to December 8, 2011 and 20 percent thereafter. The Board finds that the evidence supports a rating of 20 percent from December 8, 2011 to June 19, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral arm numbness, back disability, and irritable bowel syndrome were denied as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions. The claim for right shoulder disability was not reopened due to the dishonorable discharge during his period of active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is not related to service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected left foot disability warrants a higher initial rating of 20 percent, effective from the date of the grant of service connection. The Veteran's right shoulder and neck disorders remain in dispute.