Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's lumbar strain, left shoulder sprain, and right wrist sprain were evaluated. The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 10 percent for each condition.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including consequent functional impairment due to partial clavicle resection and limited range of motion, most closely approximates a severe muscle injury warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims for service connection for various conditions, including frontal sinus osteoma, head trauma, headaches, chronic sinusitis/rhinitis, GERD, and others. The claim of tinea pedis was also withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease, cervical strain, and residuals of labral tear of the right shoulder do not warrant higher initial ratings as their symptoms have not met or approximated criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, providing a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disabilities, and readjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA compensation criteria. The claim for TDIU is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining all outstanding service treatment records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine if his current right shoulder disability is related to his military service.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is etiologically related to his period of active service, and grants service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's radiculopathy was reduced from 20% to noncompensable effective June 1, 2012. The reduction of the right shoulder impingement rating from 20% to 10% effective February 1, 2013 is denied.,For carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, an evaluation in excess of 10% prior to March 24, 2017 and a 30% evaluation starting from that date are warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and cervical disability, finding that there was no current diagnosis related to her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's left shoulder scar is painful, superficial, and nonlinear. The Board has determined that the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation have been met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and a left elbow disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service or service-connected gout.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities met the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating from March 1, 2011. The appeal period prior to January 28, 2011 is not considered as she was employed during that time.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as her claims for service connection and increased ratings are not supported by the evidence of record. The Board finds that she does not have a current hearing loss disability, and her lumbar spine disability has not met the criteria for higher ratings at any point during the period of her appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection. For his IBS, the Board granted a 30 percent rating since the effective date of service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and to consider separate ratings based on limitation of motion and meniscectomy residuals.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or causation for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's complete service personnel records and any outstanding VA treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his respiratory disability, right shoulder disability, left varicocele, and bilateral flat feet. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in any of these cases.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, but denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates. The case is being remanded to issue a Statement of the Case on these issues.