Shoulder decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's conditions, including residuals of a right shoulder injury, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and low back disorder, are related to his active service. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral shoulder arthritis and fibromyalgia was granted, with a rating of 70 percent effective from May 1, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, right shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disorder. The remaining issues of spine, shoulder, knee, and hemorrhoids disorders will be addressed through further examination and analysis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain service treatment records and verify the Veteran's periods of active duty, as well as to provide a VA examination for sleep apnea and hypertension. The appeal will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran timely perfected his appeal of the RO's August 2007 denial of entitlement to service connection for right and left shoulder disorders. Further adjudicatory action is needed prior to considering the merits of the service connection issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and neck disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on three separate issues have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The case is being remanded for additional development to address the Veteran's shoulder disabilities, specifically regarding functional loss and pain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and left shoulder disorders due to incomplete records, including missing treatment records from various locations. The Veteran is also seeking an increased rating for his hypertension.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The case is therefore REMANDED for further action.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is service-connected on a presumptive basis due to degenerative joint disease. His hypertension is also service-connected on a presumptive basis as isolated systolic hypertension.,For the remaining conditions, further examination and medical opinions are needed to determine if they are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service clinical records and providing an addendum medical opinion.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability was not incurred or aggravated by his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination of both shoulders, including the left shoulder. The right shoulder issue remains on hold until a VA examiner can provide an opinion regarding the current status and etiology of the disability.

The Board found no evidence of a left shoulder disability in service or within one year thereafter, and concluded that the Veteran's current left shoulder DJD is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, which includes a fracture and arthritis, warrants a 20 percent rating from November 3, 2009, due to limitation of motion at the shoulder level.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, but denied reopening of his low back disability claim. The evidence received since the December 2002 rating decision relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the right shoulder disability claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete range of motion testing.

The Board has decided to grant the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of an injury to the left clavicle, finding that it is related to his military service.