Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider the increased rating claim for hypertension with headaches as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in November 2015.

The Veteran's duodenal ulcer and right shoulder disability are currently rated at 20 percent each, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating. The case is being remanded for further examination to address any neurological manifestations of the right shoulder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of the proposed reduction in his right knee rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed bilateral shoulder, neck and back disorders did not have their onset in service or are otherwise related to active duty. As a result, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected right and left shoulder strains with degenerative arthritis have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left hand/finger disorder, hypertension, or left shoulder disorder. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.,No evidence was found to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Board denied service connection for squamous cell carcinoma (cancer) of the tongue with metastasis to the neck, a left shoulder disability as secondary to cancer of the tongue and neck, loss of sense of taste as secondary to cancer of the tongue and neck, numbness to left side of face, neck, and chest as secondary to cancer of the tongue and neck, and PTSD as secondary to cancer of the tongue and neck.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development and examination, including an assessment of whether any current left shoulder disability or psychiatric disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected right shoulder disability has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of the appeal.

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

The Veteran's current migraine headaches are presumed to have been incurred during his active service. The Board finds that the Veteran has a continuity of symptomatology since service and grants service connection for this condition.

The evidence does not support the claim that the Veteran's right shoulder and arm disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating and service connection for bilateral hearing loss were withdrawn. The Board found no current diagnoses or evidence of a left shoulder, left arm, or left hip disability. Service connection was not established for tinnitus due to lack of in-service exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability and PFB are service-connected as they began during his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right shoulder disability had its onset during his period of active service and grants entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability and entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for a burn scar of the right forearm. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of any clinically ascertainable knee or ankle disability at the time of his separation from service.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea is denied. The Veteran has a CPAP machine, but does not have respiratory failure with cor pulmonale requiring a tracheostomy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder condition existed prior to service and did not undergo a permanent worsening or aggravation during service. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of sinusitis, but he has been diagnosed with allergic rhinitis. There is no clear and unmistakable evidence showing that his current allergic rhinitis was aggravated by military service.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability of the right shoulder, which resulted from treatment received at a VA medical facility in April 1993. The case has been remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, thoracolumbar spine, and left hip disabilities are not service-connected as they have not been shown to be causally related to his military service.