Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities and resulting impairments. The appeal is currently in remand status.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and osteoarthritis of the right shoulder are related to his active military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no competent evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. Service connection was denied for depressive disorder, ischemic heart disease, and neuropathy.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current low back disability had onset during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The right shoulder issue remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal was denied, with the issues of increased ratings for left shoulder disability and initial rating for chronic central serous retinopathy and central scotoma, left eye being addressed. Effective dates were also not granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination, and another examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his left shoulder disability and bilateral knee disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is not related to service, and his right shoulder arthritis does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his cervical spine disability was denied as the evidence did not show that forward flexion was limited to 15 degrees or less, which would warrant a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to November 7, 2011 was also denied as he failed to complete the necessary VA Form 21-8940, leaving insufficient information regarding his employment history.

The Board has remanded this case for a personal hearing or videoconference hearing in accordance with the Veteran's request.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the submission of new evidence. The issues on appeal include a request for increased ratings for right shoulder impingement, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, as well as TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a scar on his neck, and therefore service connection for residuals of a burn on neck is denied. For the left shoulder scar, a 10% disability rating is granted.

The Veteran's residuals of a left shoulder gunshot wound are rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ankle and right shoulder disabilities are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The Board also noted that the Veteran did not have any documented medical follow-up for these conditions until 30 years after discharge.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder strain with AC joint arthritis, bilateral elbow chronic strains with early degenerative changes, chronic cervical spine strain with degenerative disc disease, and chronic left hand strain. The Veteran's sleep apnea was also not granted as service connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left shoulder disability, intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease L5-S1, urinary frequency, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and tinnitus, do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he is capable of full-time employment.

The Veteran's dermatitis/eczema disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective prior to June 16, 2014. The right shoulder limitation of motion issue remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right shoulder injury is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of relevant evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left shoulder and left hip pain are manifestations of fibromyalgia, which is linked to service. Therefore, it grants service connection for fibromyalgia.