Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder. As a result, the Board dismissed this appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability, after December 1, 2013, is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right knee or right shoulder disability related to service.,Service connection for a right knee and right shoulder disability is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury, disease, or event; nor any nexus between current disabilities and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have arthritis in his right shoulder or right arm/elbow, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder injury with recurrent dislocations, left shoulder injury with recurrent dislocations, and right elbow joint condition. The claim for a combined 10 percent evaluation under section 3.324 is also inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a video-conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his TDIU and DEA benefits, left him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board found that he met the criteria for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify specific dates of service, including periods of active federalized duty and ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA service in the Army National Guard. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder is being returned to the AOJ for additional consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including osteoarthritis of the right shoulder and dislocation of the left shoulder with osteoarthritis, have been rated appropriately. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.

The Board has found service connection for a right shoulder condition, secondary to the Veteran's left shoulder degenerative arthritis. The Veteran is also granted a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left shoulder degenerative arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various forms of arthritis, are related to service. The appeal is granted.

The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for a back disability and found no new and material evidence. The claims for bilateral foot and right shoulder disabilities were also denied as there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as noncompensable, with no more than Level IV hearing acuity in the right ear and Level II hearing acuity in the left ear.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, with range of motion limited to 120 degrees of flexion and abduction.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for muscle tension, finding that it is a symptom of her already service-connected cervical spine spondylosis and bilateral shoulder arthritis. The issue of an initial compensable disability rating for acne vulgaris will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right wrist fracture and service connection for a left shoulder injury are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting further examination.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is not rated higher than 30 percent, and his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine has been rated as 10 percent prior to March 18, 2011, and 10 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's protein deficiency syndrome has been denied. The effective dates for service connection of left knee meniscus tear and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease have also been denied as they are not earlier than the date claims were filed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral eye disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability are not service-connected as there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service with superimposed disease or injury. The current disabilities were either post-surgical changes or unrelated to service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is manifested by X-ray evidence of arthritis and slight limitation of motion. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.