Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability and is remanding the issues of bilateral shoulder disabilities, chronic fatigue syndrome, and GERD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and denied his claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction. The decision is mixed as it grants part of the appeal and denies another.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of those related to PTSD and depressive disorder. The remaining conditions are either already established or not yet determined.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities and their relationship to military service. The case will be returned to the Board after these opinions have been obtained.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current joint pain and DJD of the left shoulder to his military service. The Veteran's symptoms have not been shown to be related to an in-service injury, and the most probative evidence indicates that these conditions are more likely due to post-service occupational activities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The preponderance of evidence does not support granting service connection for these disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung/respiratory disability and body misalignment are not related to service. The right arm, shoulder, and elbow condition claim was denied due to lack of evidence establishing a causal relationship.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee, left knee, and left shoulder disabilities as well as his claim to reopen a previously denied bilateral pes planus claim. The evidence did not establish current diagnoses or show that any claimed conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records, particularly regarding his right shoulder disability. The issues of service connection for a back disability and rating for right shoulder impingement syndrome are pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, right shoulder, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The claim is granted as her current disabilities are found to be related to her military service.

The case is being remanded to obtain additional service treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA orthopedic examination. The examiner will assess whether any currently or previously diagnosed right shoulder conditions are related to active duty service, as well as whether any sleep disturbance is proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder, diagnosed as bone spur and impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tendinitis, and acromioclavicular (AC) joint osteoarthritis, did not manifest within one year of service discharge and is not linked to his service-connected left wrist and hand disabilities. Therefore, the claim for service connection for this condition has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine, left shoulder, and right hip have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining flight physical records and providing an opinion regarding the Veteran's skin conditions.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder and right knee disorders due to a lack of evidence showing a direct link between the current conditions and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral elbow, shoulder, and hip disabilities are not related to service. The symptoms were first noted many years after service and are attributed to known clinical diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder degenerative arthritis is at least as likely as not related to his active service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and right shoulder degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's left shoulder disability is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including right knee degenerative joint disease with patellofemoral syndrome, cervical muscle sprain, chronic lower back sprain with degenerative joint disease at L5-S1, and right shoulder strain. The RO granted service connection for each condition but assigned initial ratings of 10 percent. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's service dates and obtain her medical records. The issues of service connection for a bilateral lower extremity disability, including residuals of bilateral shin splints and stress fractures; an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression; and a bilateral shoulder disability are currently in remand status.