Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck disability is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The left shoulder disability claim was also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's claims are remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including a VA examination and dental examination. The left shoulder disability claim is related to service connection on the merits, while the dental trauma claim requires further investigation into in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and bilateral shoulder disorder are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic/severe headaches, left hip condition, mental health condition, right arm condition, right hand condition, right wrist condition, scars (right shoulder), and spinal condition has been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine and left shoulder disorders did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and are not otherwise causally connected to active service. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has denied both the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability and his request for an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The evidence does not support finding that these conditions are related to service or due to exposure to any specific hazard, and the preponderance of the evidence is against granting higher ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right clavicular fracture and left shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence to support higher ratings or service connection based on his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, finding that there was no chronicity of symptoms in service and continuous after service separation. The Board also found that arthritis did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's heart murmur is not a disability for VA purposes, and service connection cannot be granted.,Sleep apnea has been rated at the maximum 50% level due to use of CPAP machine. It does not meet criteria for higher ratings based on respiratory failure or tracheostomy.,Right shoulder degenerative joint disease is currently rated as 20%, which aligns with limitation of motion at shoulder level (170 degrees flexion).,Left knee tendonitis has been rated at the maximum 10% level, reflecting no more than normal range of motion and pain on movement.,Hypertension has not required compensable ratings as it is controlled by medication with diastolic pressure below 100 and systolic pressure consistently below 160.,Psoriasis affects less than five percent of exposed or unexposed areas without requiring systemic corticosteroid or immunosuppressive drugs.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and left shoulder disability are service-connected. The decision is based on a finding of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of lipoma excision was denied due to lack of material evidence. The Board found no current disability related to the claimed condition.,Service connection for stroke residuals, eating disorder, urinary disorder (frequent urination), sleep disorder, erectile dysfunction, and neck scars were all denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to service.,The Veteran's GERD and hypertension were also denied as there was no indication that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records related to her disability benefits claim.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disability and granted it. The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to be due to noise exposure during active service.,Service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a cervical spine disability or bilateral shoulder disability as a result of his service. The claim for an increased rating for IBD is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his right shoulder disability and determine if any right knee condition is related to service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been manifested by limited motion, pain, and weakness during the entire appeal period. The Board found that his current rating of 20 percent is appropriate as it most closely approximates his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for medical opinions regarding right shoulder and knee disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete VA examinations and need for further analysis of the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was manifested by painful limited motion more nearly approximating limitation of motion to shoulder level prior to December 5, 2015. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether this condition warranted a higher rating.