Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for her service-connected right and left knee disorders, as well as service connection for multiple joint disabilities. The Board has ordered additional examinations to evaluate the severity of her knees and determine if the other claimed conditions are related to her service-connected knee disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is etiologically related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right upper back and shoulder pain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and L4-5 lumbar diskectomy are being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for VA examinations and to retrieve any pertinent outpatient records. The claims will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional development, including the assembly of medical records and a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder is not related to his in-service gunshot wound and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to issue a Statement of the Case on several issues.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle, shoulder, left knee, and back conditions are found to be related to service.,The Veteran's right knee condition is also found to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear at a previously scheduled videoconference hearing. The appeal is being returned for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected asthma has been rated at 60 percent, and she meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to her multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's cause of death, a stroke and dementia, was not caused by his service-connected PTSD. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including arthritis and a previous shoulder replacement surgery, is rated at 20 percent since February 25, 2009. Since September 15, 2014, the rating has been increased to 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an examination and opinions regarding service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury and lumbar and cervical spine disorders.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current left shoulder disability and finds the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, to include degenerative disk disease of the neck, not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence to support the contention that his current condition is related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder, attributing it to service. The issue of service connection for a left shoulder disorder is addressed in the REMAND portion and is being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide a retrospective medical opinion regarding his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for basal cell carcinoma, a scar, status post nevi removal, and bilateral elbow disorder. The claim for service connection for pes planus was reopened but remains denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability. The appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.