Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative joint disease with impingement has been manifested by limitation of motion to a range midway between the side and shoulder level, warranting a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5201. The Board finds that this is not sufficient for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease resulting in current disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a right shoulder disability that he claims is secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disability. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion regarding whether the right shoulder disability was caused or aggravated by the service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for difficulty walking and standing, muscle weakness, and right shoulder irreparable rotator cuff tears have not been met. The evidence does not support a finding of an independent disability for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his right shoulder disability. The claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and shoulder disabilities are all found to be related to his active service. The right ear hearing loss is determined to have been aggravated by service, while the left ear hearing loss is presumed to have been caused by service. Tinnitus is also found to be related to service. For the shoulders, it is established that they were caused by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities related to his claimed right shoulder, left shoulder, left wrist, index and middle fingers, right knee, right ankle, bilateral foot disorder (including cold injury residuals), or low back disorders. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a right shoulder disability is granted, with the effective date set at November 29, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for his service-connected left little finger was denied as the evidence did not show any limitation of motion or unfavorable or favorable ankylosis. The right shoulder disorder was remanded due to insufficient medical records and lay statements.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his right shoulder disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for bilateral knee disability as resolved by a March 2015 award of service connection. The remaining claims on lower back and left shoulder disabilities are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need for clarification of the nature and etiology of the appellant's left shoulder disability, including whether it is at least as likely as not related to his service or any incident therein.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, alcohol dependence, arthritis of the toes, and balance impairment and dizziness. The hearing loss claim is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds no reason to doubt the Veteran's credibility and concludes that he began experiencing ringing in his ears while in service, which continues to this day.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, including impingement syndrome and bursitis, is not related to his period of active military service. The lumbar spine disability was also denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year thereafter. Service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including the assignment of an initial disability evaluation for his left shoulder disability and a determination on whether he should be granted an increased rating for his right hip disability. The issues of service connection for a left shoulder disorder and entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for a right hip disability are also being remanded.

The Veteran's left shoulder glenohumeral arthritis with impingement syndrome is rated at 50 percent since January 1, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder tendonitis was granted an initial rating of 10 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The appeal is for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment for which the Veteran's education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the disorders were not caused or aggravated by service or service-connected conditions.