Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the previously denied claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, neck disability, and chronic back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, and a lower and middle back disorder. The Board found no current disability from these conditions and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to link any of them to her military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left wrist and right shoulder disorders has been withdrawn. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease from May 29, 2003 to March 29, 2005 is denied as the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating during this period. From March 30, 2005, an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have chronic right knee or right shoulder/biceps disabilities related to service. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee arthroplasty and tendonitis of the right shoulder do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating, as they do not result in a combined rating of at least 70% when considering all disabilities. The Board finds that he is not unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left thumb fracture residuals. The Veteran's residuals of a left thumb fracture do not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation. The Veteran's tinea cruris does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent, and his tinea pedis with intradermal reaction of the hands does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and arthritis of multiple joints, finding that there is no current disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability has met the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation since April 10, 2008.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left shoulder injury and back injury, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board found that the appellant did not have current diagnoses of a cervical spine disorder, low back disorder, left shoulder disorder, or bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome related to his military service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for arthrosis and tendonitis of the left shoulder, but denied service connection for hearing loss, left knee disability, right knee disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current tinnitus or musculoskeletal disabilities to his military service, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran is found to be unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, which include degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, right ankle fusion, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, and other conditions. The TDIU has been granted.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation, and thus denied her claim for an increased initial evaluation.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by stiffness and limited motion with pain, is rated at 20 percent disabling.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right shoulder condition, as he has alleged worsening since an earlier examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability but denied service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's left shoulder strain is related to his active service, while there is no evidence of current tinnitus that could be attributed to active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of reopening his claim for service connection for the residuals of a back injury and has determined that he is entitled to service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, diagnosed primarily as degenerative disc disease at T6-T7 and lumbosacral strain. The issue of entitlement to service connection for shoulder nerve pain and numbness remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury and right shoulder disorder are being remanded due to the unavailability of most of his service treatment records. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.