Shoulder decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied her claim.

The Board determined that the Veteran's hypertension and bilateral shoulder disorder are not related to his military service, including due to herbicide exposure. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board's May 2010 decision denying service connection for a left shoulder condition is being vacated due to lack of discussion and finding. The claim will be remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examination reports.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they are related to his active duty experience. The back disorder, arthritis of multiple joints, hypertension, and OSA do not have a direct link to his military service.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and reviewing the claims file by a mental disorders examiner. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on all additional evidence.

The Veteran's left shoulder bursitis was initially rated at 10 percent prior to December 5, 2011. From that date, the rating was increased to 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on June 16, 2007 was denied as the circumstances did not constitute a medical emergency and VA facilities were available.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical services provided by Citrus Memorial Hospital on April 27, 2009 were not reimbursable as the treatment was for a service-connected psychiatric disorder and did not meet the criteria for emergency care.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spondylosis with degenerative changes was granted. Claims for arthritis of the left wrist and hand, both feet, left elbow, right elbow, shoulders, hips, ankles, and knees were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and psychiatric disability. The rating assigned is 10 percent, effective as of April 28, 1995.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was evaluated as having slight limitation of motion prior to July 31, 2012. From that date forward, the Veteran had limited range of motion with pain.,From July 31, 2012, the Veteran's cervical root nerve pain manifested as decreased sensation without additional limitation of motion.

The Board determined that the submitted evidence did not relate to either element of new and material evidence standard, nor does it trigger a VA examination. As such, the claim for reopening service connection for a left upper extremity disorder was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, throat ulcers, hypertension, GERD, and fatigue. The decision is based on the current evidence not showing additional impairment beyond sensory disturbances in both feet.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an eye disorder has been withdrawn. The Board finds no evidence of a current hearing loss disability under VA guidelines, thus denying the claim for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is granted for tinnitus as it was incurred during active duty and continues to persist.

The Board found no evidence of a current left shoulder disability and concluded that the Veteran's left shoulder arthralgia is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability, diagnosed as right shoulder postoperative arthroscopy for rotator cuff injury with excision of the distal clavicle, was incurred in service. The left shoulder disability, now diagnosed as moderate degenerative joint disease of the AC joint, is at least as likely as not related to overuse syndrome resulting from the Veteran's right shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities, as well as his right and left knee disabilities, are related to injuries sustained during active service. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate follow-up of prior directives and incomplete opinions.

The Board has directed the VA to schedule the Veteran for additional examinations and remand his claims due to lack of proper notification of scheduled examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's arthritis of the feet, ankles, legs, knees, hips and shoulders are related to service.