Shoulder decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip arthritis is at least as likely as not related to service, but his right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities are not shown to be related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 30, 2008 for the award of service connection for status-post surgical repair of labral tear, right shoulder (claimed as right shoulder condition) as secondary to the service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of restless leg syndrome, lumbar spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left ankle disorder, or residuals of fractured pelvis, to include bilateral hip disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current low back disability and symptoms of left hip, knee, and shoulder disabilities are related to active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hip and shoulder disabilities are not related to his service or a service-connected disability, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left arm disorder is not related to service and denied his claim. The right ankle disorder claim was reopened with new evidence, but service connection remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for his service-connected conditions has been withdrawn.

The Board found no current disability involving the left shoulder and denied service connection for right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities, concluding that they are not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the appellant's current left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his military service. The VA examiner concluded that there was no direct link between the appellant's current conditions and his in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and an examination to evaluate the nature and etiology of the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis and right shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA examinations and additional medical records. The goal is to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities, including right and left shoulder injuries, low back strain with degenerative joint disease, left ankle injury, left elbow injury, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations. The Veteran's claims of service connection and increased rating will be reconsidered after obtaining the necessary medical records and conducting further evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination to determine the current level of disability and whether his left shoulder disorder is secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to increased ratings for various shoulder and hand conditions, as well as service connection for a bilateral eye disability and adjustment disorder. The case is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder condition due to new and material evidence. The Board also found that the preexisting injury was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent prior to October 7, 2011. From October 7, 2011, a higher rating of 20 percent is warranted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings and service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, hearing loss, rotator cuff disability of the right shoulder with bone spur, post-operative cervical strain with spinal stenosis, allergic rhinitis, skin disability manifested by urticarial wheals, and loss of tooth No. 19.

The Board has remanded the case to consider whether extraschedular consideration is warranted for the Veteran's service-connected shoulder disabilities, and also to address his claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if his left shoulder disability is related to his service-connected back and knee disabilities.