Shoulder decisions — 2011

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a chronic left shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence supporting an injury or disability in service and insufficient causal link to current condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of her MS and current left shoulder disability, as well as assessing the severity of her service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete VA medical opinions and referral of the issue of an extraschedular rating for bilateral claw feet with tarsal tunnel syndrome to the Under Secretary for Benefits or Director of Compensation and Pension Service. The Veteran is also required to undergo further examination regarding his cervical spine disorder and bilateral shoulder disorder as secondary to service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease and/or claw feet.

The Board has determined that the Veteran needs to be provided with VA examinations for her shoulder and knee disorders, as well as any mental health issues. The claims are being remanded to allow for these examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his left shoulder disability and left foot condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not manifested during active service and is not causally or etiologically related to service.,Symptoms of the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder were not continuous since separation from service and are not causally or etiologically related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, low back disability, and left shoulder disability. The claims were adjudicated on a direct basis without any presumption or secondary service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is at least as likely as not related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current left shoulder disability that was incurred or aggravated by service, and the cervical spine disability is not shown to be aggravated during service.

The Veteran's claims for various disabilities, including a neck disability and related symptoms, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his in-patient records from service.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition present during service and current tinnitus is unrelated to any injury or disease in service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent prior to October 27, 2005 and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The current rating of 30 percent is effective since October 7, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder, status post bilateral hip replacement, hypertension, and arthritis of the ankles, shoulders, and cervical spine with radiculopathy were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a direct relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is being evaluated in relation to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right hip disorder are denied as there is no competent evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder, left ankle sprain residuals, and low back strain disabilities have been granted initial evaluations. The right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, the left ankle sprain residuals are rated at 10 percent, and the low back strain is rated as non-compensable.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his claims file.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis, but denied service connection for right shoulder disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence submitted without a waiver of RO consideration, and the Veteran requested that his appeal be remanded for RO consideration in the first instance.