Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection claims and initial disability rating claims. The Board found no evidence of a current left shoulder disorder, and the issues concerning bilateral hand disorders, left wrist disorders, mechanical low back pain with mild joint facet arthropathy, postoperative residuals of a fracture of the right wrist, right wrist surgical scar, and left ankle sprain were not addressed due to lack of service connection claims. The Veteran's appeal is denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted due to limitation of motion above shoulder level.,Similarly, the Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling and the Board determined no higher rating was warranted based on similar findings of limited motion above shoulder level. ,The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist is currently rated at 10 percent due to mild incomplete paralysis of the median nerve, but the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted as it does not result in moderate or severe incomplete paralysis.

The Board found that the character of the appellant's discharge from his second period of service was dishonorable, and therefore denied service connection for PTSD and a left shoulder disorder incurred during this period.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, as well as his right shoulder disability and right hand fracture, were granted initial noncompensable ratings in January 1993. The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the assignment of these initial ratings, leading to a revision to grant separate 10 percent ratings for each joint affected.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right and left shoulder disabilities are not related to his military service or his service-connected low back disability. The most probative evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has determined that service connection for a cervical spine disability is warranted due to the Veteran's TMD.,Service connection for a left shoulder disability and right shoulder disability are not granted as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease, nor any link between current symptoms and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as he did not provide evidence of a current disability or link to service. The Board found no evidence of undiagnosed illnesses or medically unexplained multisymptom illnesses.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder and low back disorder are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his in-service concussion injury.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for migraine headaches is also being remanded due to incomplete records from his former employer.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff syndrome with arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other factors.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining updated treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, finding no competent medical evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is less likely than not caused by or aggravated by his military service, as there is no evidence of a pre-existing injury and the most probable cause is attributed to a fall in 2010.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is not more than 10 percent disabling, and her claim for an increased rating has been denied.

The Board found no diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for this condition. The claim for a left shoulder disorder remains pending.

The Board found no current disability in any of the claimed conditions and thus denied service connection for low back disorder, right knee disorder, right thumb disorder, and bilateral shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is found to have developed during his active service, warranting service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis is related to his active service and grants this claim. The issues of asthma and right shoulder condition are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as schizophrenia. The Veteran's right shoulder disorder claim is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability and granted it, finding new and material evidence had been received since the October 2005 rating decision.