Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a left shoulder disorder, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a VA examination. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development, including scheduling another VA examination and obtaining any outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased initial ratings for lumbar spondylosis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, degenerative changes of the acromioclavicular joint of the right shoulder, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and residuals of a pudendal nerve injury. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right shoulder disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions.,For bilateral hearing loss, the VA examination revealed normal hearing sensitivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, claimed as secondary to her service-connected right wrist disability, is being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by limited motion and pain, is currently rated at 20 percent under the appropriate diagnostic codes. This rating reflects the limitation of motion to a degree that warrants a higher rating but does not meet the criteria for an even higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder, right ankle, and right knee disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after service. The VA examiners found no evidence of aggravation beyond expected progression.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of dislocation of the right shoulder, medial meniscus tear and osteoarthritis of the right knee, and hypertension have been denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a rating greater than 20 percent for dislocation of the right shoulder prior to October 18, 2011, and 40 percent thereafter. For medial meniscus tear and osteoarthritis of the right knee, the Veteran's symptoms have been limited to extension functionally limited to not less than 90 degrees and extension limited to not more than 0 degrees. For hypertension, the evidence did not support a rating greater than 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant's request for withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that recovery of the overpayment in the amount of $31,525.27 is against equity and good conscience due to the Veteran's financial hardship and because considering his spouse's income would defeat the purpose of the VA pension program.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for further review of new evidence submitted by the Veteran's attorney and attempts to obtain a 1973 left shoulder X-ray from service records.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed bilateral foot/toe disabilities, right hip disability, left hip disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left nephrectomy with scar. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated at 30 percent since February 14, 2013. The rating is based on limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and DEA eligibility are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left shoulder disorders, but dismissed the remaining claims.

For the periods from May 13, 2009 to March 17, 2010, and from June 17, 2010 to July 28, 2015, the service-connected right shoulder disability resulted in recurrent dislocation with frequent episodes and guarding of all arm movements, painful motion, and weakness. The Veteran's symptoms met the criteria for a 30 percent rating under DC 4.71a.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current mild degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder is not related to his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the appeal can be decided, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's spider veins were incurred during military service and is granting service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral shoulder impingement syndrome remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 40 percent, with a separate rating of 10 percent for neurological symptoms. The right shoulder disability was initially denied but later granted as 30 percent disabling effective October 27, 2009. The left leg disability remains at 20 percent.