Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran was granted a higher initial rating of 20 percent for his left shoulder disability as of November 19, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder shrapnel wound with residual scar is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5301. The claims for higher ratings are denied.

The Veteran's labral tear of the left shoulder is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from March 9, 2007. The disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU. This includes obtaining her service treatment records, VA treatment records, and any relevant private medical records. The Veteran will also be scheduled for appropriate examinations to address the etiology of her current left shoulder and low back disorders.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to various disabilities, including hearing loss, elbow and knee conditions, spine disorders, foot problems, and a scar. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, low back disability, and right shoulder disability due to lack of credible supporting evidence that a stressor actually occurred during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the severity of his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected traumatic arthropathy of the left shoulder have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to May 30, 2012 and from May 30, 2012 forward.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum from the November 2012 VA examiner to clarify the opinion regarding service connection. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a right shoulder disorder, and the RO/AMC should ensure that the examiner report complies with this remand.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease was diagnosed within the first post-service year following his second period of active duty. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need to address his prostate cancer claim and obtain additional VA treatment records. The RO will also provide an examination to determine if he can work due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal, which was dismissed by the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current right shoulder disability and whether it is related to his service-connected back condition.

The Board found no credible evidence of any right shoulder injury or chronic problems during, or continuing since, service. The only medical opinion on the question of whether there exists a medical nexus between right shoulder disability first manifested many years post-service and service weighs against the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral defective hearing, inner ear disorder, disorders of the legs and hands, gynecomastia with residual scar, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with compression fracture of the thoracic spine, and degenerative joint disease of the right great toe has been denied. The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issue of higher evaluation for gynecomastia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disorder, finding no evidence to support her assertion that she experienced such condition during or immediately following service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of her claims, including obtaining more recent VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for lumbar spine, cervical spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for spondylosis and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, but denied service connection for residuals of a left clavicle muscle strain (Hill-Sachs deformity of the left shoulder with rotator cuff tear).

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated at 10 percent since December 30, 2009. The current rating is appropriate given the limitation of motion to shoulder level.