Shoulder decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for IBS, but denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity and generalized arthralgia involving ankles, shoulders, knees and hips. The right inguinal hernia claim is also addressed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and for an increased rating for PTSD. The Veteran was not granted any higher ratings, including during periods of total disability due to individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is related to his active military service.,Service connection was not established for a left ankle disability as there is no evidence of chronic left ankle arthritis within one year post-service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for an examination of the Veteran's right shoulder.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding his left shoulder disability and additional development of evidence related to his left knee and left elbow disabilities.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability claim has been reopened and granted. Service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) is also granted. The left foot dermatitis rating remains at 0%.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right shoulder, right thumb, or nasal disability due to service and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder condition and a left knee condition, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by his military service.

The Veteran's right and left upper extremity thoracic outlet syndrome have been rated at 40 percent since November 10, 2009. The Veteran does not appear to be entitled to service connection for his claimed shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran does not have a current kidney infection (pyelonephritis) that began during service or is related to any incident of service.,The Veteran does not have a current bilateral hip disorder that began during service or is related to any incident of service.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a deviated nasal septum, and various musculoskeletal disabilities (back, right wrist, left ankle, left shoulder, hips) as well as recurrent UTIs and a left heel spur. These conditions are presumed to have been incurred during the Veteran's service in the Gulf War theater of operations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current low back disorder, and there is no evidence of arthritis within one year post-service. Therefore, service connection for a low back disorder cannot be granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied the remaining issues of service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, a bilateral ankle disorder, and a left shoulder disorder. The Veteran is entitled to a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding these denied claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is not attributable to her military service or her service-connected right foot disability, and thus denies her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right shoulder, left knee, and right ankle disabilities have been granted. However, the initial compensable ratings requested for these conditions were denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a more recent VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left shoulder disorder, and for readjudication based on all evidence.