Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, tinnitus, left shoulder disability, and allergic rhinitis are all service-connected.,The evidence supports the Veteran's claims for these conditions, with a preponderance of the evidence showing their onset during his military service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current right shoulder disability, which he claims began during basic training. The VA examiner found that the current right shoulder condition was less likely related to in-service injury and more likely due to natural progression of arthritis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder, characterized by post-traumatic arthritis and recurrent dislocation, is currently rated at 20% based on limitation of motion. The appeal has been denied as the disability does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disability, and right shoulder disability. The evidence did not support the Veteran's contention that his disabilities were related to service or secondary to his service-connected conditions.,There was no evidence of a current disability in service or within one year after separation from service for arthritis of the cervical spine. The examiner opined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is less likely caused by or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine and/or right foot disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his left and right knee disabilities was granted, with a 10 percent rating assigned for each knee. The decision also addressed the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left arm disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, knee, and shoulder disorders. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that would warrant presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for chronic nosebleeds, sinus disorder, and gastrointestinal disorder, as well as the right shoulder arthritis.

The Veteran was not found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to November 13, 2006. His TDIU claim is therefore denied for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for hypertension and left shoulder deltoid atrophy with degenerative arthritis and axillary nerve palsy was denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension, as his diastolic pressure has never been predominantly 110 or more. For the left shoulder condition, he is not entitled to a rating in excess of 30 percent under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for an award of TDIU. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU, but noted that it was only warranted during periods when the Veteran was not in receipt of a 100% evaluation due to convalescence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's musculoligamentous strain of the bilateral shoulders was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his bilateral shoulder injury and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his original claim. The decision also noted that there was no causal link between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, is being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as a right shoulder disability. The Veteran's current conditions were not found to be related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his left shoulder disability, as the previous examination did not specify whether the testing was conducted in active or passive motion, or whether it constituted weight bearing or non-weight bearing motion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected right shoulder arthritis, cervical spine DDD with spasms, and lumbosacral spine DDD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is related to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck pain, right shoulder pain, and right knee pain are not related to his active service.,There is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left-shoulder and right-foot disabilities are not related to service, and therefore denied both claims.