Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran developed arthritis of the neck, bilateral shoulder disability, and arthritis of the back during his active service. As such, these conditions are granted for service connection.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral shoulder instability is not warranted. The Veteran's initial claim was denied in November 1980, and a final denial became effective on August 26, 2003 when he submitted his reopened claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to clarify the nature and etiology of any current post-polio syndrome, including left shoulder, arm, and leg, that may be present. Additionally, a VA social and industrial survey will be conducted to determine if there is any form of employment the Veteran could perform without regard to his nonservice-connected disorders.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's impingement syndrome of the left shoulder was granted a compensable rating (20%) effective April 1, 2010. The initial grant of service connection for this condition prior to November 12, 2005 is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is required.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his right shoulder disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the cause of any current left shoulder disorder, and additional medical records are needed. The Veteran's service connection claim for his claimed conditions will be remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right ear hearing loss disability was rated as noncompensable, while the right shoulder traumatic arthritis received a rating of 10 percent prior to December 11, 2013, and 20 percent from that date forward.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and knee disability. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence linking the Veteran's hypertension to his service or to his service-connected coronary artery disease. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including C&P examinations to assess his bilateral hand condition and right shoulder condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and dose estimate based on radiation exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left elbow lateral epicondylitis, degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees, right shoulder rotator cuff tendinopathy and impingement syndrome, and left shoulder impingement syndrome are related to service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent since December 30, 2015. The Board finds that the evidence supports this rating based on limitation of motion to 25 degrees.

The Board found no competent evidence of a current disability of the left shoulder and denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate reasons and bases in its denial of service connection for various hand, thumb, and heat exhaustion/heat stroke disabilities. The Veteran is already service-connected for other conditions affecting these areas.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to ensure a complete record upon which to decide the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right shoulder dislocation was denied, while his claim for service connection for chronic renal failure was granted.