Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on the issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability and a bilateral hip disability. As there are no remaining questions of fact or law, the Board has dismissed these matters.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left shoulder disabilities have resulted in limitation of motion, including due to painful motion. The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 20 percent for each shoulder disability.

The VA determined that the Veteran's left shoulder and hip disabilities were not caused by carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill in VA treatment. The medical evidence did not support a finding of additional disability resulting from VA treatment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his right shoulder condition, as the previous examination did not include joint testing for pain on both active and passive motion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and concurrent receipt of disability compensation and military retirement pay were denied. The case is remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his service and have denied all of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus and left shoulder disability was denied. The highest schedular rating available for tinnitus is 10 percent, which the Veteran already has. For the left shoulder disability, a new VA examination is needed as the Veteran reported worsening since his last evaluation in August 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Board hearing by live videoconference. The case will be returned to the Board after scheduling the requested hearing.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 23, 2005, for the award of service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome and status post superior labrum from anterior to posterior (SLAP) repair was granted. The claim for a higher initial rating for his right shoulder disability is pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder condition is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing a supplemental opinion from an examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any of his claimed disorders and there is no credible evidence to support his allegations regarding in-service injuries. As such, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service connection claims for left knee and shoulder disabilities were not granted. His claim for a higher rating for lumbar strain with postoperative DDD at L5-S1 was partially granted, but the TDIU claim prior to September 1, 2010, is held in abeyance.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral shoulder disability. The Board finds that the weight of the credible and competent evidence of record does not support a diagnosis for a bilateral shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule him for examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including right shoulder disability, hypertension, heart disability (mitral valve prolapse), PTSD, TBI, lumbar strain, and need for aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine, lumbar spine, left shoulder, right knee, and right foot disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his active service. As such, these claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have significantly interfered with his ability to maintain or obtain substantially gainful employment. The Board will remand the claim for entitlement to a TDIU for referral to the Director of the Compensation and Pension Service in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, which was previously rated at 10 percent since March 19, 1997, is now rated at 20 percent from August 22, 2008, to October 9, 2015, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been found to be manifested by symptoms of pain and limited arm motion at both the shoulder level and midway between side and shoulder level.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left shoulder disorders were denied as the evidence did not show that the conditions warranted a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate reasons or bases in the July 2014 VA examinations.