Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's Grave's Disease and Thyroid Disability are service-connected.,Hypertension, COPD/emphysema, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Upper and Lower Extremities, Acquired Psychiatric Disability (other than PTSD), Right Shoulder Disability, Stomach Disability, and Neck Disability have not been found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back and right shoulder disabilities are service-connected, with a rating of 30%.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability did not manifest during active service or within one year of service separation and was not related to any incident of service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye disorder, right shoulder disorder, left elbow disorder, and bilateral hand disorder have been denied as there is no current evidence of a disability or persistent/recurrent symptoms related to these conditions during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left shoulder conditions require additional development due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation due to hospitalization and convalescence following his March 2008 accident was denied as the criteria for such an evaluation were not met. The Veteran sustained injuries related to his service-connected shoulder disability, but did not meet the requirement of at least 21 days of hospitalization or surgery resulting in immobilization by a cast.

The Veteran's left shoulder condition, post-surgical, is currently rated at 20 percent disabling due to pain and instability without limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board found no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder and concluded that the Veteran's symptoms are not related to service. For her right shoulder disability, there is insufficient evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative joint disease with impingement has been manifested by limitation of motion to a range midway between the side and shoulder level, warranting a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5201. The Board finds that this is not sufficient for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease resulting in current disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a right shoulder disability that he claims is secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disability. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion regarding whether the right shoulder disability was caused or aggravated by the service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for difficulty walking and standing, muscle weakness, and right shoulder irreparable rotator cuff tears have not been met. The evidence does not support a finding of an independent disability for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his right shoulder disability. The claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and shoulder disabilities are all found to be related to his active service. The right ear hearing loss is determined to have been aggravated by service, while the left ear hearing loss is presumed to have been caused by service. Tinnitus is also found to be related to service. For the shoulders, it is established that they were caused by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities related to his claimed right shoulder, left shoulder, left wrist, index and middle fingers, right knee, right ankle, bilateral foot disorder (including cold injury residuals), or low back disorders. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a right shoulder disability is granted, with the effective date set at November 29, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for his service-connected left little finger was denied as the evidence did not show any limitation of motion or unfavorable or favorable ankylosis. The right shoulder disorder was remanded due to insufficient medical records and lay statements.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his right shoulder disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for bilateral knee disability as resolved by a March 2015 award of service connection. The remaining claims on lower back and left shoulder disabilities are denied.