Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for a skin disability. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is found to be related to service, while his left ear hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for a disability. Service connection is granted for bilateral plantar fasciitis but denied for fallen arches or other bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran has established current disability and in-service event or injury for his right shoulder arthritis and lumbar spine arthritis. However, there is no competent medical opinion evidence currently of record regarding the nexus between these conditions and his service. Therefore, a remand is required to obtain such an opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder strain, finding that it was incurred during his active duty service. The remaining issues of service connection for left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left shoulder and neck/cervical spine disabilities are not related to her active service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during her military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including whether they are related to service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and consideration of the issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's knee and shoulder pain is not related to his service, including a motor vehicle accident in 1981. The current diagnoses of osteoarthritis are more likely due to age-related changes rather than service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further evidentiary development, including scheduling a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated as 20 percent disabling since June 11, 2012. The rating was increased to 40 percent from May 9, 2013 to May 8, 2015 and back down to 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left knee and left shoulder conditions have been granted, with specific ratings assigned. The highest rating of 30 percent has been awarded for the DJD component of his left knee condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder, low back, and left knee disabilities are not related to his active duty service.,There is no current evidence of a hip disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis of multiple joints, are not service-connected. The right ankle condition is service-connected due to in-service trauma, but other joint conditions are not considered service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evidentiary development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder rotator cuff tendinitis with calcification, sprain and decreased mobility is etiologically related to his active duty service. The Board also finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran's current neck disability is etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is currently in remand status due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and a new medical opinion from the June 2016 examiner.

The Veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for his service-connected right shoulder disability, which has been rated as 10 percent disabling prior to October 26, 2010, and 20 percent disabling from March 1, 2011. The case must be remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right shoulder degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the March 2016 VA examination report and the need for a new VA examination. The examiner was not required to assess additional loss of function during periods of flare-ups, which may impact the rating assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder, left knee, and left elbow disabilities are not related to his active duty service.,Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal regarding increased evaluations for various service-connected conditions has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is not related to his service and therefore denied this claim. The hearing loss claim will be remanded for further development.