Shoulder Board decisions

The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's claimed left shoulder rotator cuff tear and arthritis due to lack of continuity of symptoms since service, conflicting medical opinions regarding causation, and no indication of any incident or event during active military service that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim. The shoulder disability issue is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete examinations and lack of review of certain medical reports.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and right hip disabilities were granted, with the right shoulder disability receiving a 30 percent rating. The decision also denied reopening of a claim for back strain secondary to old compression fracture at L1.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for his left shoulder, left knee, and right knee disorders were denied. The claim for service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury was also denied. The Veteran's hammer toe deformity did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and peripheral neuropathy, are found to be so severe that they prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran was found unemployable due to service-connected disabilities as of January 4, 2005. An effective date of that date is granted for the TDIU.

The Veteran does not currently have any of the claimed conditions and there is no service connection granted for any condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip disability, left shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, and certain other disabilities due to lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran is not entitled to an initial compensable rating for any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder partial rotator cuff tear warrants a disability rating of 30 percent, as it results in pain and limitation of motion with additional functional impact due to pain.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disorder, including degenerative osteoarthritis, was not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to July 12, 2007. The effective date of his TDIU is set at July 12, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was granted effective November 17, 2006. The Board finds that the evidence did not establish he was unemployable prior to this date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need to obtain VA treatment records and consider a private medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's angioneurotic edema and right shoulder disability rendered him individually unemployable as of February 25, 1998, warranting a TDIU rating effective from this date. The Board also found that his service-connected angioneurotic edema warranted an increased rating to 40% effective from the same date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current cervical spine disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA medical opinions regarding his left shoulder arthritis.

The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, right shoulder, and right carpal tunnel syndrome disabilities have been granted increased initial evaluations. The TDIU claim is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tendonitis of the right shoulder was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition.