Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing VCAA notice to the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder impingement with acromioclavicular degenerative joint disease, low back strain, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and scars post-bilateral inguinal repair surgery are all adequately contemplated by the schedular rating criteria.,As such, referral for extraschedular consideration is not warranted.

The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative joint disease does not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture that the available schedular evaluations are inadequate, and therefore his claim for an initial increased rating on an extraschedular basis is denied.

The Board denied service connection for joint pain, attributing it to diagnosed conditions not etiologically related to service. The claim for olfactory impairment was remanded by the Court and is pending.,Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration, including a new VA examination and development of evidence. The Veteran's service-connected paraspinous muscle strain in the lumbar spine region and recurrent left shoulder dislocation are at issue.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right shoulder disability and additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder condition is not related to his active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, knee, lumbar spine, ankle, hip, and shoulder disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection in any of these cases.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including scheduling an examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and left shoulder disabilities, obtaining VA treatment records, providing VCAA notice regarding a claim for TDIU, and readjudicating the issues in light of all evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left shoulder tendonitis was denied, as the evidence did not show motion limited to midway between the side and shoulder level or less. The claim for a higher rating for thoracolumbar spine DJD was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various conditions and disorders, but the Board is remanding these cases due to procedural issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for her claimed conditions, including a right elbow disability and left shoulder disability. The claim for an increased rating for gastritis with gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia is also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition. The July 2012 VA examination report supports the finding of a right shoulder disability incurred during ACDUTRA, which is related to active service. Regarding the cervical spine disability, the Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether it was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was rated at a non-compensable level prior to May 24, 2012. From May 24, 2012, the rating was increased to 10 percent.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for paralysis of the upper radicular group (right shoulder) was increased to 50 percent effective January 21, 2014. The respiratory condition characterized as post-lobectomy residuals is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral tinnitus was granted. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's fibromyalgia is etiologically related to his active duty service, and granted service connection for this condition. The status of service connection for multiple joint arthritis (excluding bilateral shoulder arthritis) remains unknown.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of left shoulder, lumbar spine, and cervical spine musculoskeletal disabilities are not related to his service or the service-connected disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and the in-service injuries.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder instability warrants a disability rating of 30 percent effective January 13, 2016, and no higher.

The Board found no evidence of a right shoulder disability in service or for many years after service, and the current diagnoses are not related to service. The Veteran's lay testimony is insufficient to establish a nexus between his current disabilities and service.