Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss disability, left ear hearing loss disability, and left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a left shoulder replacement and tinnitus, render him unemployable due to their severity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder, right ankle, left knee, left hip, mid-back, and bilateral thumb conditions are related to his service due to combat injuries. The appeal is granted.

The Board found no current clinical diagnosis of a right leg, left leg, or left shoulder/shoulder disorder and concluded that the Veteran's symptoms are not related to his service. As such, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability, left shoulder disability, and left ankle disability are related to his service. The claim for increased rating for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that a VA examination and medical opinion are needed to determine the nature and etiology of any right shoulder disorder. The Veteran's service treatment records show a recurrent right shoulder dislocation and surgery, as well as post-service medical records indicating degenerative changes in his right shoulder.

The Board has decided that there may be relevant outstanding service treatment records (STRs) and additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran had a shoulder disability in service, which could potentially grant service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current left shoulder condition and his service, including Gulf War exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected left shoulder reconstruction is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's right shoulder tendinopathy with degenerative joint disease was characterized by functional impairment comparable to limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side on and after April 13, 2011. The criteria for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DJD of the right and left shoulders have been denied as his conditions do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unemployable prior to April 22, 2009 without considering his age and a non-service-connected condition (HSP).

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right shoulder disorder related to his active duty service and therefore, denied the claim for service connection. The initial compensable ratings for left shoulder sprain and sternocostal strain are also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia has been granted service connection based on the presumption in favor of Persian Gulf War veterans. The other issues have not yet been decided.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals, including the one regarding service connection for a sinus disability. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to decide these matters.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent disabling, effective from May 31, 2011. The claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability and bilateral shoulder disabilities was granted.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current right shoulder disability, including osteoarthritis, is related to his active service. As such, the criteria for entitlement to service connection have been met and the Veteran's claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.