Shoulder decisions — 2013

The Board found no evidence to support the appellant's claims for service connection of a bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, hypertension, or respiratory disability. The Board concluded that these conditions were not caused by his service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for her service-connected right hip strain with arthritis, right shoulder arthroscopy, eczematoid dermatitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal by agreeing to the assigned disability ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder, which was manifested by chronic pain, weakness, stiffness, and loss of motion (flexion to at least 45 degrees and abduction to at least 90 degrees), did not warrant a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including congestive heart failure and disorders of the cervical spine, right wrist, left shoulder, and right hip. The decision is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded his claims of increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and dorsal spine compression fractures. The case is now being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current, chronic left shoulder disability and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to notification from his authorized representative prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective September 18, 2007, as he met the schedular criteria for a combined rating of at least 70% due to his service-connected disabilities and became unemployable on that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and the acquisition of relevant medical records. The case will be adjudicated again after all necessary steps are taken.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder coracoacromial ligament strain, finding that his current condition is as likely as not attributable to his active military service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to lack of an audiometric examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been withdrawn. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability and neck disability with associated headaches, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of his right shoulder disability has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine was dismissed as he indicated satisfaction with the current disability rating. The Board also denied service connection for a shoulder disability, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an examination and review of the claims file to determine the current severity of his service-connected left elbow and shoulder disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, lumbosacral spine disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and right knee disorder. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a left shoulder disability; radiculopathy of the left upper extremity; cervical spinal stenosis at C6-C7; and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed lumbar strain with DDD of the thoracolumbar spine, cervical spinal stenosis, left shoulder disorder, and bilateral knee disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The failure to report for VA examinations served only to deprive the Board of critical clarifying medical evidence.