Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tendinopathy and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine are related to his service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral shoulder disability, including osteoarthritis of the shoulders, is not causally or etiologically related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that a 30 percent rating is warranted for the Veteran's right shoulder disability since March 1, 2011. This finding is based on significant range of motion loss shown during the July 2017 VA examination and the Veteran's lay reports of functional impairment due to pain and during flare-ups.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder strain is not etiologically related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent from July 1, 2009 to March 14, 2013. The claim for service connection of a left eye disability was denied as there is no current diagnosis of glaucoma or other left eye disability. The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for consideration of TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that service connection for a right shoulder disability is not warranted, as the evidence does not support a finding of an in-service injury or chronic condition. The Veteran's current right shoulder disability is more likely due to post-service events.

The Board found that the Veteran's current disabilities of the left ankle, bilateral knees, lung, right shoulder, and right hip are not due to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness. The preponderance of the competent medical evidence is against a finding that these conditions were incurred in service or as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, diagnosed as scapulocostal syndrome, impingement, and bursitis of the right shoulder, was incurred in active service.,The Veteran's left hip disability is not attributable to service. The right hip disability is attributed to inservice injury but is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's neck, upper back, and right shoulder disabilities are being remanded for further development including a VA examination to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder, back, and neck disabilities are being remanded for additional development to determine if they are caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The appeal of service connection for a right shoulder disability is dismissed. Service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (to include depressive disorder) are denied, as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD or evidence linking the disorders to service. Service connection for shin splints is also denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right knee, bilateral shoulder, and left knee disabilities are granted. The lumbar spine disability claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's left shoulder disability, to include degenerative arthritis, is related to service and therefore service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder impingement syndrome and degenerative tear of the rotator cuff is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have all been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,There is no indication that any exposure basis (e.g., burn pit, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune) played a role in the development of any of these conditions.

The evidence does not establish a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, and the Board finds that VA's duty to provide a VA examination is not triggered. The Veteran has not provided competent evidence of a current disability or signs and symptoms of a current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed left shoulder rotator cuff tendinitis with impingement syndrome is related to an in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left shoulder condition, dizziness and balance condition (to include TBI), bilateral plantar fasciitis, restrictive airways disease, and total disability rating due to individual unemployability were denied. The Veteran was granted increased ratings for migraine headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder, and back disorder.