Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and clarifying whether the appellant continues to receive treatment at Madigan Army Medical Center.

The Board denied the Veteran's original claim for service connection for DJD of the left shoulder in February 2011. New evidence received since then does not provide new and material information to support the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed back, neck, and shoulder disabilities.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability of osteoarthritis is presumed to have arisen from his in-service injury, and service connection is granted.

The Veteran's left shoulder, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities have been granted increased initial ratings of 10% each since February 6, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder is not related to service, and his claim for low back disorder was denied due to lack of a current disability. The reopened claim will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left shoulder osteoarthritis is found to have started during service and continues today, granting service connection.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including whether it is related to service or his service-connected right wrist and elbow disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's claimed shoulder pain and concluded that these claims must be denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a VA examination to assess his left shoulder disability. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has also been raised.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was manifested by pain with full range of motion from August 28, 2002 to December 1, 2002. No higher rating is warranted as there was no evidence of ankylosis or loss of strength.

The Veteran's cervical strain with mild degenerative changes at C4-5 and C5-6, lumbar strain, right shoulder degenerative joint disease with partial supraspinatus tear, and right carpal tunnel syndrome are each rated as 20 percent disabling effective May 20, 2014.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis in his shoulders or elbows, and the preponderance of evidence fails to establish that his diagnosed conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations and the need to reschedule them. Additionally, a supplemental statement of the case must be issued as part of this process.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including degenerative joint disease, is currently rated at 30 percent. A separate 10 percent evaluation for the degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear at a scheduled videoconference hearing. He will be given another opportunity to provide testimony regarding his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right and left shoulders, finding that these conditions are related to in-service treatment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his post-surgical residuals of the right shoulder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current level of disability.

The Board has found that a VA examination and opinion are necessary to determine whether the Veteran's current neck and right shoulder disorders began in service or are related to service. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a bilateral shoulder disability, and thus the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection.