Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and his left shoulder disability is also rated at 30 percent. Both disabilities are characterized by pain without evidence of severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for bowel incontinence and bladder incontinence, and the Board dismissed these claims. The right shoulder disorder claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current level of impairment due to his service-connected right shoulder disability. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his request for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder myositis prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for right shoulder disability and service connection for right knee disability. The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increased rating claim, while the Board found that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's contention that his current right knee DJD and arthritis were related to in-service injuries.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain medical records and service personnel records, as well as a VA examination for the Veteran's cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities. The appeal will be remanded to the AOJ.

The Board granted service connection for sarcoidosis and assigned a noncompensable rating effective August 5, 2008. The Veteran's multiple joint and muscle arthralgias are rated as part of the sarcoidosis with an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder and numbness of the bilateral upper extremity are being remanded due to incomplete development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Dr. M.L.T., scheduling an appropriate VA examination, and ensuring all evidence is reviewed.

The Veteran seeks service connection for left shoulder, neck, and low back disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA medical records from the period of August 1975 to August 1999 and to provide addendums to the previous examination opinions.

The Veteran's right shoulder DJD and left shoulder tendonitis have been granted increased ratings, with the right shoulder now rated at 30 percent effective January 29, 2014.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent from August 8, 2012 and higher evaluations are not warranted based on the evidence of record.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective April 5, 2014, based on his service-connected disabilities. The combined rating of these conditions meets the criteria for a TDIU as of July 31, 2008.

The Board has granted service connection for a thyroid disability, but denied the remaining issues of right shoulder, left arm and shoulder, and knee disabilities due to lack of clear and unmistakable evidence that these conditions were not incurred in service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of left shoulder disability and granted it on the merits, finding that a current diagnosis is related to military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left shoulder disability that he believes is secondary to his service-connected left knee replacement. The case has been remanded due to the need to obtain private treatment records and provide an opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and remanded other issues including ratings for his back, right shoulder, and leg disabilities.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, manifested by arthritic changes around the AC joint, had its onset in service and is currently diagnosed. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disorder, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease, can be reasonably disassociated from his active duty service. However, the left shoulder disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.