Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his right shoulder disorder was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent from December 6, 2005 to June 15, 2010 and did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent beginning August 1, 2010.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current disabilities, including arthritis of multiple joints, back pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, and wrist pain, were not incurred in or caused by his active military service. The Board found the evidence insufficient to establish a connection between these conditions and his service.

The Veteran's left shoulder condition, tendonitis and/or bursitis, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. Her right shoulder injury is unrelated to any event or disease in service.,The cervical spine sprain/strain was also not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal with respect to all pending claims prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative joint disease was manifested by complaints of pain but the preponderance of evidence demonstrated that his range of motion did not meet criteria for a higher rating prior to January 9, 2012 and after January 9, 2012.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome, which is the major side, has been manifested by a disability picture approximating limitation of motion of the arm at the shoulder level. The Board finds that the examination report reflects that the examiner conducted a relevant physical examination and reviewed relevant diagnostic studies.

The Veteran's bilateral inguinal hernia disability is not service-connected as there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition during service and the current condition did not manifest until after discharge. The other issues were either not addressed or are not supported by sufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder bicipital tendonitis, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's right shoulder bursitis is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5201. The appeal for a higher disability rating for his service-connected right shoulder bursitis has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 50 percent as of July 8, 2009. The cervical spine and bilateral shoulder disorders are not service connected due to lack of evidence showing arthritis during or within one year after service. Headache disorder was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records.

The Board denied reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left knee disorders, a left shoulder disorder, bronchitis, cardiac (heart) disorder, and diabetes mellitus. The evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating any of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or in-service events that would support her claims.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome has been granted, with the effective date set at September 12, 1992. The issue of service connection for fatigue (claimed as chronic fatigue syndrome and/or fibromyalgia) is being remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for a headache disorder is granted, and he is entitled to an increased rating for his right shoulder entrapment syndrome. The Board also found that the Veteran has hypertension and entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD and acquired psychiatric disorders, as well as his secondary service connection claims. The back disability was not found to be related to a right elbow disability, nor were any of the other claimed disabilities found to be related to or aggravated by the right elbow disability.

The Veteran's chronic joint problems, including as due to an undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1117, were not found to be related to his service and are therefore denied.

The Veteran's chronic left shoulder strain and degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine are found to be related to service-connected disabilities, thus granting service connection on a secondary basis.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is not etiologically related to his periods of active service, including the established injury in Korea. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for right shoulder degenerative joint disease has been granted at a 10 percent level since January 21, 2009.