Shoulder decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for hypertension and a TDIU. The Board has remanded the hypertension claim due to disagreement with its denial, while the TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The case is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development, including scheduling a hearing for the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran did not experience head trauma in service resulting in any residuals, and therefore denied his claim for service connection for residuals of head trauma.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right shoulder, right eye disorder (corneal abrasion), or right knee disability. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for treatment at Flagler Hospital from June 21, 2011 to July 1, 2011 are denied as he did not meet the criteria for payment under the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability has been rated at 30 percent since the April 2009 rating decision. The Board found that his current range of motion did not meet the criteria for an increased rating, as he had restricted range of motion to 25 degrees from the side.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining sick or morning reports from his service units and scheduling him for a VA orthopedic examination to determine if his current right shoulder and neck disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for PTSD, but further development is needed to determine if there was a stressor event in service and whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee and right shoulder disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examiners opined that there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology, and the current conditions are less likely than not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion and insufficient reasoning in the original decision. The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is being reviewed again for a new medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a need for a new VA examination and consideration of the Veteran's reports regarding an in-service left shoulder injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right shoulder disorder and consideration of an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have its onset during active service and is considered a result of disease or injury incurred in service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the compensable rating for a fracture of midshaft third metacarpal of the left hand, leaving only the issues of service connection for an upper back disorder and bilateral shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed disorders.

The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for a right shoulder disorder, increased rating for left shoulder disability, and TDIU has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran while his appeal was pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder conditions, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.