Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, characterized by tendonitis with chronic impingement syndrome, was rated at 20 percent effective October 25, 2010. The rating was increased to 40 percent effective January 25, 2012.,Compensation for scarring related to the right shoulder disability remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various disabilities, including upper cervical strain, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, bilateral hearing loss, and several psychiatric, musculoskeletal, and respiratory conditions. The Board has ordered a remand to address these issues due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including right shoulder, thoracolumbar spine, left hip, and knee disorders, as well as a right thumb cyst and numbness in the arms and feet, were denied. The Board found no current disabilities related to these issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues with communication and missing records, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his claimed disabilities are related to exposure to ionizing radiation in service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability and erectile dysfunction are both found to be related to his service-connected PTSD. The Board grants the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for new VA examinations. The Veteran's right shoulder disability, hammer toes of the feet, and status post left bunionectomy will be evaluated.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain medical records related to the Veteran's right shoulder surgery and treatment for her neck and right shoulder disability. The case will be remanded for further examination and opinion regarding whether it is at least as likely as not that the current disabilities began in service, were caused by service, or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and a separate rating of 20 percent for instability has been granted.,For the left shoulder, a 30 percent rating remains in effect, with a separate rating of 20 percent for instability also being granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's left shoulder disorder is related to his military service and to verify any past shoulder dislocations. The case will be returned for further review.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and additional development due to an inadequate November 2010 VA examination, which did not address the Veteran's lay reports of right shoulder symptoms in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, NOS is rated at 70 percent effective October 20, 2014.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent effective October 20, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected right hip strain, left shoulder impingement and arthroscopic debridement with residual scar, chronic right ankle sprain, and left ankle degenerative joint disease were denied. The disabilities are rated based on their direct effects rather than any presumption or secondary theory.

The Veteran's claims for right and left shoulder osteoarthritis, tendonitis of the left shoulder, and peripheral neuropathy of both shoulders were denied effective from June 18, 2003.,Claims for right and left wrist osteoarthritis were also denied effective from February 20, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and an opinion on the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee degenerative arthritis was not manifest in service or to a degree of 10 percent within one year of separation and is unrelated to service. The Board also found no relationship between any current right or left shoulder disability, as shown by MRI reports from July 2014, and service.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's claimed disorders to his active duty service and determined that they are not related to service.