Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records. The right shoulder disability may have worsened since his last examination, and further evaluation is needed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his GERD symptoms.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current respiratory disability and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of bilateral shoulder disability is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability renders him unemployable prior to October 24, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not resulted in any new diagnoses or conditions that would warrant increased ratings. The right and left wrist carpal tunnel syndromes are resolved, as is the lumbar spine disability. The cervical spine disability remains not service connected.,No current evidence of radiculopathy or hearing loss has been found.

The Veteran's service-connected genital herpes was granted a disability rating of 60 percent effective February 23, 2010. The other claims were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected right shoulder and bilateral shin splint disabilities. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's right shoulder injury is currently rated at 20 percent, which corresponds to limitation of motion to shoulder level. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no functional equivalent of limitation of motion midway between the side and shoulder level.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including VA examinations and a medical opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities and any acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine osteoarthritis with mild scoliosis is rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The right lower extremity radiculopathy due to this condition is also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to ensure a complete record upon which to decide his claims. This includes obtaining VA treatment records, scheduling examinations, and considering the evidence in the electronic claims file.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome, a back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been manifested by significant limitation of motion, pain, and an inability to perform overhead activities. The Board finds that a rating of 40 percent is warranted for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disability were denied as there was no evidence of instability or limitation of motion that would warrant a higher rating prior to February 17, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder disorders, as well as initial ratings for scars of the vermilion border of the mid-upper lip and abdominal area. The Veteran's knee disabilities were also not granted increased ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left knee disability was rated at 10 percent, the neck disorder and back disorder were not related to service or a service-connected condition, the right shoulder disorder and left hip disorder were also not related to service or a service-connected condition, and the umbilical hernia was not listed among diseases for which presumptive service connection applies. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his combined disability rating did not meet the threshold for entitlement.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review the appeal.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the ratings for right ankle and shoulder conditions, as well as his claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability. The Veteran's current chondromalacia with degenerative joint disease of the right knee is etiologically related to service and all reasonable doubt in her favor has been resolved.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examinations and records to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions and whether he has a bilateral hand disability secondary to his service-connected autonomic neuropathy.