Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's increased rating claim for left arm shrapnel wounds was dismissed. The Board referred his service connection claim for right shoulder disorder to the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claimed bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral eye condition, left paracardiac fibrosis/subsegmental atelectasis, and right ear hearing loss. The examiner must address whether these conditions are related to service or exposure to environmental hazards in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder osteoarthritis and denied service connection for urinary incontinence, secondary to service-connected nephrolithiasis. The decision is based on the Veteran's combat injury during service resulting in chronic pain that led to current osteoarthritis.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and a spine disability, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that led to the current conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including a rotator cuff tear, is currently rated at 20 percent and denied for an increased rating between July 1, 2007 and May 26, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for psychiatric disability, left shoulder biceps tendonitis and acromioclavicular joint arthrosis and osteoarthritis, right elbow disability, major depressive disorder, other specified trauma and stress related disorder, and anxiety disorder unspecified have been granted. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities began during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder condition and a low back condition, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, but denied service connection for right index finger laceration scars.

The Board has restored a 10% disability rating for service-connected left knee subluxation and granted a 30% rating, but not higher, for a right shoulder disability.

The Veteran is granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and assigned a rating of 70% effective January 30, 2014.,Effective January 30, 2014, the Veteran meets the schedular criteria for Total Disability Evaluation Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, low back disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension have been denied.,Service connection is not granted as the evidence does not establish an in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chest pain and costochondritis was denied as it is not of service origin.,Service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's initial rating for left shoulder arthritis is denied, but he receives a 20 percent rating for his lumbar spine arthritis. The decision also grants him a TDIU effective May 31, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder condition, left elbow condition, low back condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder) due to lack of evidence showing these conditions began during service or are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of healed compression fractures at T7-9 was denied. Service connection claims for various conditions were also denied, with the exception that service connection for residuals of healed compression fractures at T7-9 received an effective date of May 12, 2003.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a right foot disorder and granted it. The Veteran's PTSD, right shoulder strain, and impingement syndrome are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's skin and rectal disabilities are granted, with a 10% rating for the rectal fissure. Service connection is granted for left shoulder, right wrist, and right thumb disorders.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for frostbite residuals of the hands and feet, as well as his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is denied due to lack of prior communication indicating intent to file a claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disorder. The Veteran's current right shoulder disorders are related to his active service.

The Board denied service connection for low back, neck, and right shoulder disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or the Gulf War.