Shoulder decisions — 2014

The Board found that the April 1975 rating decision denying service connection for left shoulder arthritis and bursitis did not contain CUE. The effective date of the grant of service connection for DJD of the left shoulder is February 20, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and increased rating for his left shoulder disability were denied, as the earliest claim was received on December 3, 2008. The Board found that a higher rating than 10 percent is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a neck disorder and right shoulder disorder. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records, personnel records, employment records, and an examination to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was not related to service and denied.,Sleep apnea and GERD were both found to be due to undiagnosed illnesses associated with the Gulf War, but as these conditions are presumed, no rating is assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right shoulder disability causally related to, or aggravated by, active service. As such, the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral shoulder disabilities are not related to his active service or any service-connected disability, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD, and the VA examiner's opinion was that the Veteran did not meet the full DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for PTSD. The Veteran's symptoms were instead attributed to an undifferentiated somatoform disorder.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with left shoulder bicep tendonitis, which is considered a direct service connection as it is related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right shoulder and left knee were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20% for his right knee osteoarthritis, which was granted with a 20% evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a left wrist disorder, finding that the evidence submitted was not new and material. The claims for respiratory disorder (sarcoidosis), right hip disorder, left shoulder disorder, fibromyalgia, and right ankle disorder were also denied.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder and disorders of bursae and tendons in shoulder region, is related to his active service. The Board finds that the criteria for establishing service connection are met.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection of a back disability and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The appeals are granted.

The Veteran's combined schedular service-connected disability rating for his right and left shoulder disabilities is 50%. The VA Director of Compensation has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable. Therefore, TDIU is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability and left shoulder pain are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right shoulder, low back, right leg, and left leg disorders has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that would support the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle and right shoulder conditions are causally related to her service, granting her claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a lumbar spine disorder or left shoulder disorder that was incurred or aggravated in service.,Both conditions are found to be unrelated to his period of active duty and INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and determine the etiology of his right shoulder separation with degenerative joint disease and temporomandibular joint disorder.

The Veteran's service treatment records are negative for complaints of, or treatment for, spine, left shoulder, or lung disabilities. The earliest post-service clinical evidence of possible acid reflux is more than twenty years after separation from service.,There is no competent credible evidence of record that reflects that the Veteran has a lung disability causally related to, or aggravated by, service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for limitation of motion. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are currently contemplated by the assigned 20 percent rating.