Shoulder decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the shoulders and patellofemoral syndrome of the knees, but denied service connection for fibromyalgia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities are not etiologically related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities involving the right shoulder, chest, and back are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, back, bilateral shoulder, skin, and vision/eye disorders. However, it remains to be determined whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for her right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the potential existence of outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a gastrointestinal disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, neck disability, bilateral hand pain, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral hip disability is granted as these conditions are presumed to have been incurred due to an undiagnosed illness during his Gulf War service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left shoulder disorder is not related to his active duty service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities are found to be likely preventing him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as his multiple conditions render him unemployable.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent prior to July 18, 2012. From July 18, 2012, the disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is manifested by instability and guarding, in addition to arthritis with limitation of motion to shoulder level. The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the right shoulder disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a low back disability and postoperative metastatic breast cancer. The claim of service connection for a low back disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection was also denied for other conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for an examination addressing his functional impairment from service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for any of the claimed disabilities, including a left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and examination, as well as a VCAA letter addressing his increased rating claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the receipt of additional medical evidence after the statement of the case was issued. A new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his service-connected shoulder disabilities.

The Board has found that the Veteran's diagnosed low back, neck, and right shoulder disabilities are as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for a shoulder disability, low back disability, and hip disability, as well as entitlement to specially adaptive housing. The Board finds that the withdrawal is valid.

The Board found that the appellant's current left shoulder disorder did not manifest during his period of active duty for training and is not otherwise related to service. The preexisting left clavicle fracture was not aggravated by ACDUTRA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic left shoulder strain is service-connected, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's GSW scars of the left shoulder and upper back do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation prior to July 18, 2012 or an evaluation in excess of 10 percent beginning July 18, 2012. The issue of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for service-connected fungus of the right foot was withdrawn by the Veteran.