Shoulder decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical degenerative joint disease with cervical radiculopathy did not develop within one year of discharge and was not related to service, including a fall on ice during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a hearing at the RO. The claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus, an initial compensable evaluation for hypertension, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for a left shoulder disorder are pending.

The Veteran's right elbow disability was rated at 10 percent prior to August 15, 2012, and increased to 20 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to August 15, 2012, and increased to 20 percent from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder and left knee disorders are causally related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for a left shoulder disorder and a left knee disorder.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses for services rendered at Lafollette Medical Center on May 12, 2013 is denied as the criteria under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725 are not met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The case will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder condition and sleep apnea are not related to his military service, resulting in a denial of both claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to conflicting evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back disability and a need for further examination. The issues of service connection for lower extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disabilities are also on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding his right arm nerve condition.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral foot and shoulder conditions, which prevent him from standing for long periods of time.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher initial ratings or a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder, left knee, and right ankle disabilities are service-connected as they were incurred during his active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's left upper extremity disabilities did not have onset during his active service, were not caused by his active service, and arthritis of his left upper extremity did not manifest within one year of separation from his active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further development of his claims. The Veteran is also seeking an increased rating for a right foot/ankle injury, which will be reviewed as part of this process.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing. The appeal is not yet resolved and will be returned to the AOJ after the hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and Social Security Administration records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a left arm/shoulder condition as secondary to his right wrist disability, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to August 23, 2011 and 50 percent from August 23, 2011 for dysthymic disorder, and TDIU. The Board found that the Veteran's left arm/shoulder condition was less likely than not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right wrist disability.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including tendonitis and degenerative joint disease at the acromioclavicular joint, is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating based on current evidence of record.