Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical records related to the Veteran's right shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right shoulder disabilities were not incurred in service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's right finger fracture resulted in a 10 percent rating, which was restored.,Prior to September 22, 2015, the Veteran's right shoulder disability warranted a 30 percent rating. From that date forward, it warranted a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's neck and shoulder disabilities are found to be related to his military service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted.,Service connection is granted for a left shoulder disability (left rotator cuff degeneration, glenohumeral joint spurring, and supraspinatus tendon tear) and for right shoulder arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his claims for increased ratings and service connection are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to February 23, 2014, for the grant of service connection for a right shoulder disability was denied. The correct effective date remains February 23, 2014.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition and bilateral shoulder conditions, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and that any current disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective December 4, 2015. The evidence does not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not cause unemployability.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion or functional loss.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right shoulder condition that manifested during or as a result of active military service, nor does he have a current right shoulder condition that was caused by, or aggravated by, his service-connected right elbow disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder injury residuals were not incurred in or aggravated by service and are less likely caused or aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder injury. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied. The Board also determined that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right shoulder disabilities are related to his service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including associated right lower extremity sciatica, is found to have originated during service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's left shoulder disability due to in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to consider all evidence, including a recent VA examination report. The TDIU claim is also deferred until these issues can be addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with examinations to determine the severity of his left knee and right shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia, thyroid condition and bilateral shoulder disability has been granted. The thyroid condition is presumed due to her service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Gulf War.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations and opinions are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's ankle, hip, knee, and shoulder conditions. The appeal is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed right shoulder or right ankle disability and therefore, service connection for these disabilities cannot be granted.