Shoulder decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and verifying the Veteran's current mailing address.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a November 1999 VA examination report and recent VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability and cervical spine disability will be reconsidered after all relevant evidence is obtained.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the nature and etiology of any low back and left shoulder disorders, including prior diagnoses. The Veteran's Social Security Administration records are also requested as they may provide relevant information.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether the Veteran's current left shoulder disability, characterized as status post left shoulder rotator cuff tear, AC arthrosis, and partial biceps tendon tear, is related to his in-service injury. After resolving any doubt in the Veteran's favor, the Board grants service connection for a left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ). The rating decisions related to bilateral hearing loss disability and left shoulder disability are pending further development.

The Board has found that the VA examinations provided in connection with these claims were inadequate and requires further development, including obtaining STRs from the Veteran's period of service in the Army Reserve, scheduling new VA examinations for the Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, right shoulder disabilities, and hearing loss, and reviewing the Veteran's lay assertions regarding his inservice injuries.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete information and records.

The Veteran died from hypotension due to probable pulmonary embolism or myocardial infarction. The Board has determined that a medical opinion is needed to determine the cause of death and whether service-connected conditions contributed to it.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including impingement syndrome, partial rotator cuff tear with arthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent and denied for an increased rating.

Service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis/osteoarthritis of the right knee.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for proximal tibial stress fractures of the left knee with osteoarthritis is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his right shoulder disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 30 percent or 40 percent for the periods specified.,Additionally, the Veteran's claim for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities was also denied as there was no evidence showing he was precluded from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and clarifying opinions regarding his service connection claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment, thus the claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a supplemental opinion from the April 2014 VA examiner regarding whether his right shoulder degenerative arthritis is due to or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder degenerative arthritis. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining any additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and conduct examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective January 15, 2008 due to his service-connected right shoulder disability. The date of entitlement arose on the date he stopped working full-time in January 2008.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his right shoulder disability and any psychiatric disorder. The claims will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of a right shoulder disability, low back disability, or bilateral hand disability. The claim for major depressive disorder is remanded as it requires further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and left shoulder disabilities are related to his active service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.