Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for a greater evaluation.,Service connection was granted for left hip osteoarthritis. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran’s left hip disability had its onset in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability, low back disability, and cervical spine disability due to new evidence received since the March 2004 decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment from May 21, 2009, until October 18, 2013.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and a compensable rating for residuals of a fracture of the right leg distal tibia.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he has the education and work experience to perform non-physically demanding jobs.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection and rating of disabilities. The Veteran's initial claim for lumbar spine disability was granted, but a higher rating is denied. Right shoulder disability also remains at 20 percent. Residual scars associated with post-spinal fusion have been rated as 10 percent prior to December 24, 2019 and the issue of increased rating remains on appeal.

The Veteran's lipomas on the upper right chest and shoulder are granted service connection as they developed during active service. Her headaches, secondary to her service-connected hypertension, are also granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck and right shoulder disabilities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service or service-connected right foot residuals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder injury, finding that there was no in-service event or diagnosis of the condition and that the current disability did not manifest within one year of discharge. The Board concluded that the Veteran had not provided credible evidence to support his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hip, shoulder, and ankle conditions. The evidence did not establish a nexus between her current disabilities and military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, and bilateral shoulder disorders due to insufficient examination findings. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's pre-existing left shoulder disability, finding that it was aggravated beyond its natural progression during active service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and the Board has remanded for further development regarding his rating for residuals of shell fragment wounds to the right arm and shoulder.

Service connection has been granted for lumbar spine stenosis and spondylolisthesis, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left shoulder DJD and residuals of total arthoplasty.,The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine condition is believed to have caused or aggravated his right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional development due to incomplete records, specifically from a VA medical center and non-VA orthopedic records. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization or copies of any private treatment records he wishes to have considered.

The Board has decided the TDIU claim and remanded for further examination of shoulder conditions. The issues of rating in excess of 30 percent, 40 percent, and 20 percent for shoulder disabilities are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to additional development being required, including verification of alleged exposure to herbicides and lead paint during service.

The Board has determined that the AOJ did not properly verify the Veteran's periods of active duty service and did not secure an opinion regarding the likely etiology of the claimed right ankle condition. The case is being remanded to address these issues.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including recurrent dislocation and painful limited motion, is rated at 20 percent. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, tendonitis of the left shoulder, and tendonitis of the right shoulder were denied. The current ratings are 10% for the cervical spine prior to October 27, 2014, and 20% thereafter; 20% for the left shoulder; and, 20% for the right shoulder.