Shoulder decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been granted, effective June 1, 2005. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to August 30, 2012 is being remanded due to the change in his disability picture.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back and shoulder conditions, are sufficiently severe to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to June 27, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the scar and its impact on the Veteran's right shoulder injury. The TDIU claim is also held in abeyance pending completion of this development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's service periods and obtain relevant medical records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations. The right shoulder disability and bilateral hearing loss claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate opinions from the VA examiner regarding the Veteran's claimed knee, hip and shoulder disorders.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disorder and remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions. The right knee bursitis rating issue is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder strain has been productive of slight limitation of motion, but the Board granted a 10% rating based on pain under 38 C.F.R. § 4.59.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability was not incurred in or aggravated during service and is not related to his service-connected sarcoidosis on a causation or aggravation basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back and right shoulder disabilities are not related to his period of active military service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain clarifying opinions from the VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back and left shoulder disabilities. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran is seeking a higher disability rating for his service-connected right shoulder condition. The claim has been remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including SSA records and VA treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and a disability identified as PDMS. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address the etiology of any current nose and right shoulder disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected hysterectomy with scar, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, degenerative joint disease of the left wrist, right lung scarring, left breast scar, and right forearm scar. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claim for an increased rating for service-connected residuals of injury to the right pectoral region, resulting in scar and painful limitation of shoulder motion, claimed as right brachial plexus injury, right shoulder, with residual radial nerve damage, muscle damage, and rotation of the shoulder, remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and a left shoulder disability, do not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is being evaluated to determine if it was caused or worsened by his service-connected left shoulder disability.