Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, right and hip disabilities, and a compensable rating for his right fifth toe disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or other etiological factors.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with a 20 percent rating for his right shoulder disability since February 26, 2015. The Veteran previously had a 10 percent rating prior to that date.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, which affects his dominant upper extremity, has manifested with pain, tingling, and loss of range of motion to approximately the shoulder level for the entire time on appeal. The criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent have not been met.

Your claims for service connection are being remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action. Specifically, you need to be scheduled for a videoconference hearing before a Board Member at your local RO.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability does not result in limitation of motion to shoulder-level, and therefore the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied the remaining issues due to lack of evidence or clear and unmistakable evidence of preexisting conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and additional development is needed to determine if any current left knee, right knee, or left shoulder disabilities are related to service.

The Board has determined that the criteria for service connection for throat or esophageal cancer have not been met, and thus the claim is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability did not have its onset in service and was not caused or aggravated by his active military service. The claim for acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression) is also denied.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability required a temporary total evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 from November 1, 2011 to May 18, 2012 due to severe postoperative residuals.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability also required a temporary total evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 from March 1, 2013 to January 1, 2014 due to severe postoperative residuals.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current left shoulder and right wrist disabilities. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to his failure to report for the scheduled examination.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a left clavicle fracture with left shoulder acromioclavicular arthritis do not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right shoulder arthritis, are found to be of such severity that they prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 40 percent since January 23, 2012. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and right shoulder disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by his service, as there was no evidence of chronic conditions during service or continuity of symptomatology post-service. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is related to service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition. The remaining claims for right shoulder, right knee, left knee, and bilateral foot disorders are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to appear for a Travel Board hearing. The Veteran is scheduled for a live videoconference hearing before the Board at the earliest available opportunity.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that his current disability is not related to an injury sustained during active duty. The left shoulder disorder claim was granted.