Shoulder Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, respiratory condition, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, and right knee disability. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent from May 4, 2005 to December 22, 2005. The Board found that the symptoms were adequately contemplated by the schedular rating criteria and denied an extraschedular rating for this period. For the time period in question, there is no other service-connected disability affecting employment. Therefore, entitlement to a TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disabilities are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 20 percent each, and an extra-schedular evaluation is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate medical opinions and outstanding records. The RO must obtain additional medical records, provide a supplemental opinion regarding the low back disorder, right shoulder disorder, erectile dysfunction, and lower extremity muscle cramping, and ensure that all development actions are completed.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disorder. The claims for service connection for the left shoulder and chloracne are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are denied. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities related to his knee disorders, elbow disorders, shoulder disorders, neck/cervical spine disorder, low back/lumbar spine disorder, bilateral foot disorder, hip disorders, or hand disorders. Additionally, there is no indication that the Veteran's hearing loss disability was incurred in service.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is granted, and he is assigned a 10 percent disability rating for his left shoulder disability since the date of claim. The initial ratings are 10 percent prior to April 30, 2012, and 20 percent thereafter.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder due to insufficient medical opinions and further development is needed.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the claims of service connection for bilateral hip condition and bilateral shoulder condition. As a result, these claims are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right and left shoulders, finding that there is evidence linking these disabilities to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination. The case will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 30 percent each, with no higher ratings granted. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of severe painful motion or weakness in either knee.,Service connection has been established for bilateral shoulder disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's increased rating claim for left shoulder strain, and his TDIU rating claim remains pending.

The Veteran has submitted new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for low back, upper back, bilateral hip, and bilateral shoulder conditions. The Board will now review the merits of these reopened claims.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 40 percent since November 6, 2013 due to ankylosis of the scapulohumeral articulation. The previous rating prior to this date was 30 percent for limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claims for cardiac, left shoulder, right hand, and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records and medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, and thus the issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right shoulder disability prior to May 21, 2014, and greater than 20 percent since then is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for a reduction in his disability evaluation from 60 percent to 30 percent was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show material improvement in his coronary artery disease, which would have been reasonably certain to be maintained under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The issues of entitlement to initial compensable disability ratings and service connection are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent since February 1, 2009. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted prior to December 9, 2008, and grants a 30 percent rating from February 1, 2009, forward.