Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of service connection for a left shoulder disorder and higher initial disability ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, right lower extremity femoral nerve involvement, and left lower extremity femoral nerve involvement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, post traumatic osteoarthritis of the right shoulder with loss of range of motion, tinnitus, and bilateral high frequency hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability had its onset in service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to September 25, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The TDIU claim is also pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including additional VA examinations and consideration of the April 2017 memorandum from the Director of Compensation Service regarding extra-schedular evaluation. The TDIU issue will also be considered on remand.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the representation withdrawing the appeal before a decision was made.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left shoulder arthritis, as well as his generalized arthritis condition and back condition, are not linked to service or any presumptive conditions. The evidence does not support a finding of chronicity during service or continuity of symptoms after service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for the claimed disorders and thus, service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's recurrent instability of the left shoulder with arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Codes 5201 and 5202. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation as there is no ankylosis or limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of service connection for right knee and right shoulder disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to September 8, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence does not show he was incapable of securing and following a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and assigned a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's compression fracture T-12 vertebrae with kyphosis and degenerative joint disease (DJD) and low back pain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for an additional VA examination to address the current nature and severity of his left shoulder condition, as he believes there may be new findings from imaging studies. The claim will then be readjudicated.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral knee, bilateral shoulder, and low back disabilities. The RO must also obtain all ongoing treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities and resulting impairments. The appeal is currently in remand status.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and osteoarthritis of the right shoulder are related to his active military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no competent evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. Service connection was denied for depressive disorder, ischemic heart disease, and neuropathy.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current low back disability had onset during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The right shoulder issue remains pending.