Shoulder Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for goiter and right shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for several of his claimed conditions, and thus service connection cannot be granted. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's sinusitis claim is addressed in the decision. The Board finds that there is no evidence of a current disability and no relationship to service.,Regarding the right shoulder, the VA examiner opined that the current condition was less likely than not incurred in or caused by an in-service injury, event, or illness. However, the Veteran has additional medical evidence from an MRI showing tendinopathy and/or an incomplete thickness tear involving the supraspinatus tendon.,For the cervical spine disability, the VA examiner opined that it is less likely than not incurred in or caused by an in-service injury, event, or illness. The Board finds this opinion more persuasive given the lack of documented treatment for neck pain after discharge and normal X-ray studies for many years following discharge.,The lumbar spine disability claim has been reopened but remains denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and no relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for pseudofolliculitis has new and material evidence received, but service connection is denied. The right shoulder disability claim remains pending due to need for additional examination. Service connection for the lumbar spine condition was previously denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, left knee disability, cervical spine disability, and left shoulder disability were not incurred or aggravated during his military service. The VA examiner concluded that there was no evidence of a current diagnosis of hypertension in service or within one year post-service, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA addendum opinion to determine if his carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity was aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder dislocation and impingement syndrome.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right shoulder conditions are not related to service, but granted service connection for his right shoulder impingement syndrome and right rotator cuff tendinitis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected left shoulder arthritis, left ring finger injury, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 31, 2012 for a 20% rating for the residuals of a right shoulder shrapnel wound is denied as there is no evidence of an increase in disability within one year prior to the filing of his current claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities require additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Board found no causal link between the Veteran's current right shoulder disorder and his service, concluding that it is more likely due to a work-related injury in 2006.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities have not met the criteria for a higher rating during the period from September 3, 2002 to August 22, 2004.

The Veteran's right shoulder osteoarthritis is not service-connected, and his current right arm disability (including numbness and pain) is not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder, elbow, and ring finger pain are not due to an undiagnosed illness attributable to service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War era. The symptoms are attributed to known clinical diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, heart disability, damaged teeth, bilateral shoulder disability, and low back disability are not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability, tinnitus, and bilateral knee disability are all service-connected. The decision also addresses a clothing allowance or fee dispute issue which is referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 50 percent prior to September 22, 2011.,From September 22, 2012, through January 7, 2014, and from March 1, 2015, through March 15, 2016, the Veteran was rated at 60 percent for his right shoulder disability following total shoulder replacement.,Since March 16, 2016, the Veteran's right shoulder disability has been rated at 90 percent.