Shoulder decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral eye disability, and dental disorder. The Board found no evidence of these conditions being incurred in or related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues listed on the title page prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's current diagnoses of left hip and right shoulder arthritis are not related to service, including exposure to herbicides or wet weather conditions in Vietnam. The Board finds that the Veteran did not have chronic symptoms of arthritis in these areas during service or since separation.

The Veteran does not have a right foot disability, right shoulder disability, or right knee disability that is the result of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is still under consideration.

The Veteran's scars residual to gunshot wound of the right shoulder do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities, as well as PTSD. The evidence now shows current diagnoses of these conditions and a link to an in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, diagnosed as patellofemoral pain syndrome, is related to his active military service.,Similarly, the Board finds that the Veteran's right shoulder disability, diagnosed as arthritis, is also related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 for convalescence following left shoulder surgery on September 23, 2009 is denied as the evidence does not support a finding of at least one month of convalescence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his disabilities did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to various disabilities, including hearing loss, elbow and knee conditions, spine disorders, foot problems, and a scar. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service treatment records and for a new VA examination. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various foot and shoulder disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and basal cell carcinoma of the left shoulder are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records, verification of herbicide exposure during service in Korea, and further development is required.

The Board finds that additional development is necessary to determine the current severity of the Veteran's left shoulder condition, as well as his service connection claims for cervical spine disability, bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis of the right foot, and sinusitis. The Veteran also needs a VA examination to address whether any current foot disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected depression is found to be the primary cause of his sleep disorder and chronic fatigue, which are granted as secondary to this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's neck and shoulder disorders are not related to service, as there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease. The current disabilities may be due to post-service activities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to September 24, 2008 did not prevent him from seeking, gaining, or maintaining meaningful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment of a sedentary nature during the period January 1, 2008 to August 30, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for various conditions, and the Board has determined that these claims are inextricably intertwined with other issues. The case is therefore REMANDED to schedule a videoconference hearing before the undersigned VLJ.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected shrapnel wounds, which contributed to the development of orbital and sinus cancer that ultimately led to his demise. The Board finds a causal relationship between the in-service injuries and the cause of death.