Shoulder decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for a new examination to assess the current severity of her shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment for which the Veteran's education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, but the Board granted a higher rating for PTSD. The left shoulder disability and gastrointestinal disorder are presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Service connection was not established for back or abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder is not related to his active military service and denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability and restless leg syndrome are not related to service.,There is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability necessitated a three-month extension of his temporary total rating from August 1, 2009, through October 31, 2009.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, currently rated at 20 percent, has been found to warrant a higher rating. The issue of TDIU is addressed and remanded for further consideration.

The Veteran's right ankle and left shoulder disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine their likely etiology, including whether they are related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the low back and bilateral shoulder disabilities has been withdrawn. The skin rash claim is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's death is being reviewed due to his service-connected interstitial lung disease, which the Board finds may be related to his rheumatoid arthritis. The case must be remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is due to multiple post-service injuries and not related to his service, thus denying service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide new etiology opinions.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to November 14, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability and osteoporosis of the lumbosacral spine and bilateral femoral necks are not service-connected, as there is no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing. The appeal is not about service connection at all, but rather about reopening claims of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining additional medical records. The issues include increased ratings for service-connected lumbar spine, left shoulder, and right hip disabilities, as well as entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, arthritis of the hips, arthritis of the knees, a sinus disability, a low back disability, and headaches. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome with intermittent plantar fasciitis, as well as his left shoulder disorder, are all productive of functional loss due to painful motion. The Board finds that a rating of 10 percent is warranted for each condition.