Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been manifested by pain and limited motion, but not to the extent that it warrants a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is unrelated to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The low back disability issue remains pending as further development is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disabilities of the left and right shoulders, knees, and ankles are as likely as not attributable to his active military service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for bilateral foot plantar fasciitis with pes planus (30% prior to April 3, 2015 and 50% thereafter) and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint hypertrophy and strain (10% prior to April 3, 2015 and 20% thereafter), left shoulder strain (10% prior to April 3, 2015 and 20% thereafter) have been denied. The Veteran's service connection for these conditions is based on direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination reports and a need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and arranging for new VA examinations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a right shoulder disorder other than residuals of shell fragment wound (SFW) injuries to Muscle Groups II and IV, right, and an increased rating for SFW of the right shoulder are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that further evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder, back, and heart disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder, left finger, and cervical spine disabilities are secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, finding that the Veteran's disabilities are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to notification from the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, including as due to service-connected residuals of a right wrist disability. The Veteran's acne was not granted a compensable rating prior to February 3, 2015.,The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for his septorhinoplasty residuals due to VA negligence in 1989 was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability, acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder is not attributable to service and arthritis of the right shoulder was not manifest within one year of separation from service. As a result, the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder has been denied.

The Veteran is service-connected for multiple disabilities, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy. The Board finds that these conditions render the Veteran unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disorder, including arthritis, was not manifest in service and is unrelated to service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current headache, left leg/knee, or left shoulder disabilities that are related to his military service. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions are more likely due to natural aging processes and other non-service-related factors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right shoulder disabilities, as well as his requests for increased evaluations for pilonidal cyst and pilonidal cyst scar. The VA examinations indicated that any current conditions were not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and other issues, including verification of dates of active duty for training.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder rotator cuff tear with arthritis and determined that the Veteran's combined disability rating is at least 70 percent, which meets the criteria for TDIU.