Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder condition. The case is remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is the result of a left shoulder injury sustained during service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to unavailability of some VA medical records and requests for addendum opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and worker's compensation records. The Veteran is also to be provided a supplemental medical opinion regarding whether his bilateral shoulder disability was aggravated by his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination of his left shoulder disability and obtaining updated VA treatment records. The issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and entitlement to an effective date earlier than December 10, 2014, for the grant of a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD are also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the claimed conditions, including dysphagia, neck disability, back disability, right shoulder disability, sinus disability, hypertension, sleep disturbance, and loss of vision of the right eye, based on presumptive service connection due to active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board has restored a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's acromioclavicular arthritis with impingement of the left shoulder, finding that the evidence does not show improvement in his condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, but denied his other service connection and rating claims.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder need to be remanded due to a request for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen claims of service connection for low back, right shoulder, and left knee disabilities have been withdrawn by his representative. The claim seeking an increased rating for PTSD has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death, and whether his suicide was related to his severe chronic pain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, headaches, left shoulder disorder, left arm disorder, and chest pain are all related to his military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has reviewed the evidence and finds that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen any of the Veteran's service connection claims for his right femur, left wrist (radius), or left shoulder disabilities. The existing evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for muscle arthralgia/pain, left shoulder strain, and low back strain are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and review of new evidence, including a medical report from a private physician.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left shoulder impingement is not related to his military service, including his period of active duty training (ADT) in February 1988. The evidence does not support a finding that the condition was incurred or aggravated during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck and shoulder disabilities are not related to his active service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claims.