Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's hypertension, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability are not service-connected as they did not manifest to a compensable degree within the one-year presumptive period or continuity of symptomatology is not established.,Service connection for a pulmonary/respiratory disability was denied due to lack of evidence linking it to in-service exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral shoulder disabilities are not rated higher than 10 percent prior to September 25, 2017 and not rated higher than 20 percent from that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicide agents and for further development of his service connection claims.

The appeals seeking service connection for a right shoulder disorder and left lower extremity disorders have been dismissed. The appeal seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD and PTSD, has been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for arthritis residuals of a left shoulder was denied as the evidence did not show that his range of motion had worsened to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's arthritis, left shoulder disability, and other joint disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after service.,Service connection for a left shoulder disability was denied because the Veteran did not have a chronic condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, which resulted in limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side, is granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for right shoulder strain and left elbow strain have been denied. The VA has determined that the current 10 percent ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding various service-connected disabilities, as well as for additional records to be obtained. The claims are not related to a specific exposure basis or the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck disability and right upper extremity disability due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examinations. The Veteran's current disabilities are being evaluated again with new evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not found to be related to service.,His lumbar spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, cardiomyopathy, hair loss, headache disorder, and COPD were also not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for right elbow disability was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.,There is no evidence of a current disability manifested by muscle spasms or bilateral hip disability. The Veteran has not been shown to have these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for an eye condition and a left shoulder condition due to insufficient evidence. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an additional opinion regarding the Veteran's left shoulder condition, as there are conflicting opinions in the record and further clarification is needed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right shoulder disability needs to be evaluated again due to lack of information from a previous VA examination. The AOJ must obtain an updated examination and provide opinions on whether the right shoulder disability is related to service, including pushups and pullups, as well as secondary to his left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claim for arthritis, left shoulder, is granted as there is evidence of current disability and in-service injury. The Board finds the private physician's opinion sufficient to establish a nexus between service and current condition.,Service connection is granted for residuals of frostbite affecting all four extremities (claimed as peripheral neuropathy) due to exposure during cold weather training.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals on all service connection claims except for right shoulder, right ankle, and right wrist conditions. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his left and right shoulder conditions remain at 20 percent, with the Board finding that additional evidence is needed to determine if higher ratings are warranted. His low back condition remains rated at 20 percent due to lack of ankylosis or other specific findings warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for right shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder impingement syndrome, and left knee degenerative joint disease due to the need for additional development including a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extension of a temporary total (100 percent) rating beyond August 31, 2014 due to left shoulder arthroscopic tenodesis and biceps tenotomy because the evidence did not show severe post-operative residuals or need for convalescence.