Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed left knee, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left shoulder disorders. The claims will be reviewed after these opinions are obtained.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and right shoulder arthritis were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a diagnosis within one year post-service. The medical opinions provided did not support a direct relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder sprain more nearly approximates a finding of limitation of motion at shoulder level, warranting a 20 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current neck and right shoulder disorders began in service or are etiologically related to service. The previous VA opinions were inadequate as they did not consider the Veteran's history of pain since service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability and granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for bilateral knee disability and bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to appear at a previously scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has resulted in painful motion and weakness that cause limitation of motion to shoulder level, warranting a 20 percent rating from February 27, 2008 to September 8, 2013. The claimant is not entitled to an increased rating beyond the granted 20 percent.

The Board has ordered additional examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and hand disabilities. The case is being remanded to allow for these actions.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for limitation of motion. The evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no additional functional loss beyond what has been recorded by the examiners.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and denied an increased initial rating for the Veteran's right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine or a rating in excess of 10 percent for right shoulder strain.

The Board has granted a 40% rating for the Veteran's lumbar strain with IVDS effective June 24, 2009. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right leg is also service connected as secondary to his low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing records and unverified service information.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for viral myocarditis condition with chest pain with radiation to the left shoulder has been denied as there is no legal basis for an effective date prior to June 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of diabetes or glaucoma, and the left shoulder and neck disorders are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of the left leg other than his already service-connected radiculopathy and left knee disability. The claims for bilateral shoulder, hip, and left knee disabilities are also denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or caused by service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his tension headaches was denied prior to June 25, 2014. However, from that date forward, he is now rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 8100.,Service connection has been established for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral shoulders.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right thumb, and left ankle disorders due to lack of evidence linking the current disabilities to active military service.,VA medical opinions found no link between the Veteran's current diagnoses and her service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion on the etiology of any current left shoulder disorders and whether they are related to service or one or more service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's claim is currently in remand status.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hip strain, right shoulder osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis are not related to his service or any service-connected disability. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.