Shoulder decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these disabilities to active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting any of the requested ratings or benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, chronic eye pain, and chronic bone and body pain (including shoulder, arm, and back pain) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Veteran did not provide credible evidence of exposure to herbicide agents such as Agent Orange during his time in Germany.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current left shoulder disability and his service-connected hiatal hernia residuals.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, left ulnar neuropathy, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for any of the conditions he claims, and therefore service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and headaches is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his disorders, as well as the need to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's substantive appeal was not timely filed, and the Board has dismissed the appeal due to this jurisdictional issue.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left shoulder disorder due to his withdrawal request. The claim for umbilical hernia is denied as there is no probative evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to address the issues on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including pseudofolliculitis barbae, skin rashes of the head and face, respiratory disorder, chronic headaches, right shoulder disorder (claimed as skin/nerve movements), ear disorder (claimed as ear aches, diagnosed as otitis externa), sleep disorder (claimed as insomnia/hypersomnia, diagnosed as sleep apnea), and vision problems. The Board found no objective evidence of these conditions during service or since service that could be attributed to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder and left wrist tendonitis are directly related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral shoulder disorders and left knee disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected gunshot wounds to the left shoulder and chest area have been granted increased ratings, with a combined rating of 20 percent for Muscle Groups I and IV in the left shoulder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine has been reopened and is now pending. The VA will conduct further examination to determine if his current shoulder, bilateral leg, and right wrist disabilities are related to his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that an evaluation in excess of this rating is not warranted. The Veteran's migraine headache disorder claim has been remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current right shoulder and right hand disabilities are not due to any injury or disease incurred during his National Guard service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder bicipital tendinosis and lumbar strain disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU, as well as her issues regarding sleep disturbances. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a left elbow disability, a right shoulder disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, and gout.