Shoulder decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling examinations and obtaining records from the Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent, and his cervical spine disorder has not been shown to be service-connected or due to his service-connected right shoulder disability. The Board denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical opinions and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's right ankle and shoulder disabilities were not caused by participation in VA vocational rehabilitation training, and the Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for these conditions. The claim for PTSD was also denied as there is insufficient evidence to establish a service-connected stressor.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was evaluated as 10 percent prior to May 12, 2012, and the RO granted a 20 percent evaluation effective May 12, 2012. The appeal for higher ratings remains before the Board.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from June 19, 2011 to June 21, 2011 at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital were reimbursed as the emergency treatment was deemed necessary due to his severe symptoms and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The reduction of the Veteran's disability compensation benefits due to incarceration was proper, as it followed the applicable VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative bones in the neck, back, right shoulder, and left shoulder based on chronic conditions that had onset during combat service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for facial palsy was denied as he does not currently have this condition. The claims for higher initial ratings for the right shoulder and knee disabilities, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss were also denied.

The claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities are denied as the Veteran admitted that he injured these areas during his employment at VA, not due to VA medical or surgical treatment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled Travel Board hearing. He has been placed on the waiting list and now requests a videoconference hearing instead.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left shoulder disorders, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his in-service injuries. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a right wrist disorder, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II was granted service connection as incurred during a period of ACDUTRA. Service connection for the right shoulder disability and right elbow disability were also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are too numerous and severe to identify a feasible vocational goal, leading to the denial of his VR&E benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability is currently evaluated at 20 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating. The Board finds that his symptoms do not meet or approximate ankylosis, limitation of motion to 25 degrees, loss of head of the humerus, nonunion of the humerus, fibrous union of the humerus, or frequent episodes of recurrent dislocation.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and right shoulder and neck torticollis. The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and opinion requests related to his service-connected lumbar spine, right shoulder, and thumb disabilities, as well as headaches. The claims will be reconsidered in light of all evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to assess the severity of his cervical spine, thoracic spine, right shoulder, and right hip disabilities. The appeal also includes service connection claims for bilateral corneal abrasions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed hip and shoulder disabilities, as well as his peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, are not service-connected. The claims were denied due to a lack of medical evidence supporting a direct or secondary relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.