Shoulder decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and VA treatment records related to the Veteran's left shoulder disability. The Veteran may be in receipt of Workman's Compensation benefits for an injury he sustained to his left shoulder in May 2010.

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

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations and increased ratings for his service-connected right shoulder disability were denied. The claim for a separate compensable evaluation based on damage to the deltoid muscle was also denied.

The Veteran's left shoulder and left leg disabilities are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings due to their respective limitations of motion.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination for the right ankle disability, clarifying which shoulder should be service connected in the January 2014 examiner's opinion, and providing an addendum opinion by another examiner if necessary.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to establish a current low back disability or right shoulder disability related to service.,VA will need to provide the Veteran with an examination and obtain medical opinions regarding his bilateral ankle condition.

The Veteran's current disorders affecting his neck, right shoulder, right arm, and right fingers are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service, including his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the VA examiner and requesting additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right arm disability related to service or caused by a service-connected condition, including as secondary to neck/right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating, as determined by VA, to qualify him for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right shoulder disabilities are denied. The RO increased the rating for his service-connected bulging annulus, L5-S1 and L2-3, to 20% from January 16, 2013.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for chronic low back strain. The claim of service connection for bilateral shoulder condition remains denied as there is no medical nexus linking the current disability to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder and low back disorders, and additional treatment records are needed.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings were denied as there was no medical evidence indicating the severity of his left shoulder disability before July 27, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cysts of the back of the neck, face, arm, shoulder and chin is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for PTSD, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, and lower extremity radiculopathy. The respiratory disability claim is not supported by the evidence.,Service connection was established based on direct causation of these conditions in service.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right arm and shoulder disorders, including whether they are related to service.