Shoulder decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The low back, right shoulder, and left knee conditions are also under review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee, lumbar spine, and right shoulder disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional development including scheduling a VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right and left shoulder disorders are at least as likely as not related to his active service, including his in-service duties.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his shoulder disabilities. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of multiple joints, including bilateral knees, hips, ankles, shoulders and elbows and the left wrist, is being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing records and incomplete VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left shoulder involving Muscle Groups I, II, and III have been denied due to his failure to report for VA examinations scheduled in connection with these issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues include service connection claims and reopening of previously denied claims.

The Board has determined that a medical examination and opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran's right shoulder disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. If so, service connection for this condition would be granted.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claim for service connection on appeal encompasses entitlement to service connection on a secondary basis as set forth at 38 C.F.R. § 3.310. The RO will be directed below to conduct the initial adjudication of the claim for service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities have been reopened, but the claim for an increased rating for his lower back disability has been denied.,The Veteran's lower back disability is rated at 10 percent prior to June 13, 2011, and at 40 percent since that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate July 2010 VA examination, and the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability is now pending before the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic diarrhea and a right shoulder disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses are at least as likely as not related to his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left rotator cuff injury, finding that there was no evidence of such an injury in service or within one year after discharge. The Board also found that arthritis could not be presumed to have been incurred in service.,For his PTSD, the Board determined that while the disability is productive of social and occupational impairment, it does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed shoulder disorder and his bilateral shoulder pain is a manifestation of his cervical spine disorder. Service connection for a back disability was granted, but service connection for a neck and shoulder disability (secondary to the back disability) was denied.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, diagnosed as residuals of a left clavicle fracture with nonunion and degenerative joint disease, is found to be etiologically related to active duty service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left shoulder disorder, including degenerative joint disease of the AC joint, is not related to service and did not manifest within one year of separation from service. The VA examiner concluded that the current condition was less likely than not incurred in or caused by the claimed in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing and further appellate review.

The Veteran's current left shoulder disability, including status post rotator cuff repair and degenerative joint disease (DJD), is determined to be secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The Board grants this claim on the basis of credible evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran is seeking compensation for additional right shoulder disability due to VA medical treatment (physical therapy) in October 2008. The case has been remanded for further development and an examination.