Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that further examination and development are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of a left shoulder disability and to reopen the claim of service connection for spondylolysis. The claims of hearing loss and tinnitus have been decided, with tinnitus found to be service-connected but no rating assigned due to lack of current hearing loss disability.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's left shoulder disability since April 1, 2014.

The Veteran seeks service connection for current back, right shoulder, and skin disabilities. The Board has remanded the case to obtain VA treatment records and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical spine degenerative disc disease was denied. However, she received a separate 20 percent rating for limitation of motion due to left shoulder pain from October 2, 2013, to March 10, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying service connection.

The Board granted service connection for right shoulder DJD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, effective February 23, 2012.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of right and left shoulder bursitis, as well as the compensable rating for hemorrhoids. The remaining issues of service connection for optic neuropathy, COPD, and peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of DDD of the lumbar spine, left shoulder traumatic arthritis, and a cervical spine condition are related to his active duty service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records from the United States Naval Academy and Navy Reserve, as well as a supplemental medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disability.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, and left shoulder. The Veteran's DJD is found to be at least as likely as not attributable to his active duty military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder is not service-connected, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The left shoulder sprain issue remains pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a respiratory disorder and left shoulder disability. The case will be remanded to obtain relevant medical records, conduct further examinations, and provide an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of hearing loss meeting VA criteria throughout the appeal period. The claims for right shoulder, thumb and ankle conditions are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol abuse, left shoulder dislocation, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) render him unemployable since May 2008.

The Veteran's cervical spine radiculopathy of the upper extremities was manifested by mild incomplete paralysis from August 9, 2013. The Board has granted a separate 40 percent disability rating for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted and rated at 70 percent, effective November 21, 2012. The Board also found that the Veteran's service-connected neck/shoulder disability is not related to his active duty.

The case is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current level of severity of the Veteran's left shoulder disability and to address any flare-ups. The evaluation of the Veteran's left shoulder disability prior to June 16, 2012 will be deferred at this time.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is found to have had its onset during service and continues today, warranting service connection. The claims for the other conditions are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.