Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical examinations and lack of proper verification of a stressor.

The Board dismissed the appeals of service connection for right shoulder condition, right foot/ankle condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative joint disease with thoracic scoliosis is rated at 10% prior to February 12, 2014 and at 20% thereafter. The ratings for his right shoulder disability and left shoulder disability remain at 10%.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to a service-connected right shoulder disability due to lack of medical evidence supporting the claim.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar spine condition, a rash on the right foot, and a left shoulder condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Further examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current left shoulder condition was aggravated by his service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as cervical spine degenerative disc disease. The issues of service connection for a left shoulder disability (secondary to cervical spine disability), low back disability, and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for a service-connected left ankle disability are remanded.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for left shoulder impingement syndrome with history of left clavicle fracture is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional records.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, a cervical spine condition diagnosed as osteoarthritis and C6-C7 broad-based disc bulge with moderate-severe right neuroforaminal narrowing (claimed as neuropathy), and chronic right chest wall pain, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected residuals of fracture of right clavicle.,The Board found that there is a reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran for each condition granted.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability, finding that his limitation of motion was at most to shoulder level.

The Board denied service connection for ankylosing spondylitis and related disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not linked to his in-service fall.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, right knee, left elbow, and right elbow disabilities. The Veteran's assertions of in-service injury or aggravation are not supported by medical evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, and her right shoulder disability claim has been reopened. The right shoulder disability remains denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome and cervical degenerative disc disease have been remanded for further evaluation due to reported worsening of symptoms.

This decision grants service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and remands the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, left shoulder disability, and myofascial syndrome. The Veteran's IBS is presumed due to Gulf War exposure. Service connection for his other conditions is denied.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the knees, back, shoulders, and hips as there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for right shoulder osteoarthritis and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease due to incomplete examination reports. The Veteran's service-connected conditions are being evaluated again.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings of his right shoulder disorder, insomnia prior to January 30, 2018, and anxiety disorder from January 30, 2018.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for left deltoid atrophy secondary to service-connected left shoulder disability and an increased rating claim for osteopenia of the left shoulder. The Veteran needs a VA examination to address whether his left deltoid muscle atrophy is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including his left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's noncompensable rating for left shoulder disability from September 1, 1999 to June 12, 2012 is denied due to clear and unmistakable error in the September 2005 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right elbow condition, specifically whether it is related to service. The Veteran reported falling from a tree and injuring his arm during service.