Shoulder decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities likely combine to preclude gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, bilateral residuals of shin splints, a left shoulder disability, lower respiratory disease (bronchitis and asthma), and gastrointestinal disability (GERD/gastritis).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including herniated disc of the lumbar spine and arthritis affecting multiple joints, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling of VA examinations and obtaining supplemental opinions to address the severity of her right shoulder and right knee disabilities.

The Board denied an increased rating for migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc degeneration of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent, effective December 1, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing and addressing new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed left knee, left shoulder, and cervical conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records and an opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied all service connection claims as the Veteran does not have any diagnosed disabilities for which he can be granted service connection.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent prior to March 18, 2012 and at 20 percent from that date. The claim for higher ratings remains pending.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, right shoulder disorder, and left knee disabilities have been granted service connection. The Board has also remanded the issues of initial evaluations for his right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the current severity of the Veteran's low back disability and left shoulder strain and arthritis with tendon tear.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate. The issue of service connection for a recurrent left shoulder disorder will also be addressed in the remand.

The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death, acute myelogenous leukemia, was not caused by or related to service or a service-connected disability. The appellant's argument for service connection based on exposure to herbicides and secondary to prostate cancer were not supported.

The Board has granted service connection for postoperative residuals of a right shoulder disability and denied service connection for skin cancer and prostatitis, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to in-service combat injuries. Service connection was not established for skin cancer or prostatitis due to herbicide exposure as these conditions do not fall under the presumptive provisions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral shoulder disability is likely related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The issue of depression as secondary to a bilateral shoulder disability remains pending.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral shoulder tendonitis and myofascial syndrome of the shoulders, finding that these conditions began during his military service and are related to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of elbow, shoulder, knee, or ankle disorders. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disability and granted it. The spine condition is also found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn, and the claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no legal basis for assignment of any earlier effective date.