Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine, right shoulder, and right elbow disabilities were not incurred in service. The symptoms of degenerative arthritis were not chronic in service or manifested within one year of separation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, so the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability and hearing loss. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder disability, insomnia, and a psychiatric disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right shoulder degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of functional impairment.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, headache, and respiratory disorders have been reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence has been submitted to support these claims.,The Veteran also withdrew her appeals regarding the claim of service connection for a skin rash and the effective date for PTSD with major depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability did not manifest within one year of separation from service and is not continuous since service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for his current right shoulder condition.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent effective June 13, 2017. The rating is for the period after surgery and prior to any flare-ups.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of breast cancer, left hand disability, left shoulder disability, and diabetes mellitus as the evidence did not support a link to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left shoulder disability and scar are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded due to inconsistencies in the documentation regarding prior dislocations. The case will be returned for an addendum opinion from the December 2016 examiner or another qualified clinician.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is attributable to active service and the claim for service connection is granted. The left shoulder condition issue remains pending as a VA examination has been scheduled.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service and is granted service connection. The Board finds the Veteran credible in his report of a decline in hearing loss post-service, but an addendum opinion is needed to address this issue. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of noise exposure or current disability. Service connection for gastrointestinal disabilities (including GERD) and acquired psychiatric disorders are also denied due to lack of medical nexus opinions. An addendum opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's shoulder disabilities is needed.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, to include left shoulder impingement (minor), does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran is seeking compensation for additional disabilities resulting from a cervical diskectomy and fusion performed in 2008. The Board has determined that further development, including obtaining an opinion on the proximate cause of any additional disability, is necessary.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, but her right hip labral tear remains at a denied status.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition resulted in limited or painful motion prior to April 6, 2012, warranting a 10 percent rating.,The Veteran's low back condition resulted in limited or painful motion prior to March 10, 2008, warranting a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the current evaluations adequately reflected her disability levels.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral heel and left shoulder disabilities did not manifest during service or are not related to any in-service injury, event, or illness. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for pain at the right sternoclavicular joint as there is no evidence of a separate and distinct disability other than his already service-connected right clavicle scar and right shoulder degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence. The issues include a claim for an increased rating for sciatica, right lower extremity, and a secondary service connection claim for a right shoulder disability.