Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for review of additional evidence, including treatment records and a Gulf War examination. The AOJ should obtain addendum opinions addressing the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and allergic rhinitis claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the appellant's right shoulder disability, characterized by arthritis and limitation of motion, warrants a 20 percent rating since July 17, 2008.

The Veteran's recurrent dislocation of the left shoulder is currently rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board also found that the Veteran's service-connected disability does not prevent her from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left shoulder conditions did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims of service connection for back, neck, and left shoulder disabilities. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder condition is not related to his service-connected recurrent pilonidal cyst, and thus does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection. The other issues have also been denied.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which combined are at least 40% disabling and prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's DJD of the left shoulder was not incurred in service and is not related to his military service.,The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's bilateral posterior calcaneal spurs are less likely than not caused by his in-service right ankle injuries.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine its etiology, as the previous opinion relied too heavily on the absence of medical evidence from service.

The Veteran's left shoulder scar, which measures no longer than 10 centimeters and is stable but painful, warrants a 10 percent rating.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left shoulder disability prior to July 29, 2016 and found service connection for gastrointestinal disability (IBS) was warranted. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee and shoulder degenerative joint disease is related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability did not manifest during service and is not attributable to a disease or injury in service. The claim was denied as there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-service disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of the Veteran's right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities during service, requiring further examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's left shoulder separation is rated at 30 percent, the highest possible rating under Diagnostic Code 5201. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, effective April 2, 2018. The lumbar spine disability was granted an initial rating of 20 percent from March 9, 2016 onwards for radiculopathy associated with the IVDS. No higher ratings are warranted.

The Board has remanded the claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left shoulder impingement syndrome due to a lack of recent VA examination, and requested additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral flat feet and left shoulder disability are service-connected. The decision also grants the reopening of the claim for bilateral flat feet.