Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and provide a VA examination. The Veteran served at Fort Dix, NJ in the 2nd Training Regiment, Company K where he reported injuring his left shoulder while moving railroad ties in August or September 1958. He has since been diagnosed with a left shoulder disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lower back, left shoulder, and left elbow disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues of entitlement to initial compensable ratings for various disabilities and service connection for other conditions remain on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are more likely than not related to his in-service injury. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for dislocated shoulder and loss of use of left upper extremity has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal prior to a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, particularly regarding his shoulder conditions and psychiatric condition.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is at least as likely as not etiologically related to an in-service event, injury or disease. Therefore, service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left knee, gastrointestinal (gastritis), and right shoulder disorders. However, the evidence does not establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea, chronic left shoulder strain with laxity, muscle and joint pain of the hands and/or ankles (manifested by undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness), chronic fatigue, and short term memory loss. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, which is manifested by pain and weakness resulting in a limitation of shoulder elevation to midway between the side and shoulder level, warrants a 20 percent disability rating since June 4, 2009.

The Board has remanded the four issues for additional development due to a lack of examination. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a videoconference hearing due to his failure to appear at the scheduled date. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran's left shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tear has not been shown to result in limitation of motion at the shoulder level or more severe, and therefore a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a review of VA treatment records and an assessment of the current severity of his right wrist and shoulder strains.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and information from the United States Postal Service regarding the Veteran's employment. The Veteran is also to be scheduled for a VA examination to assess his functional impairment due to his left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and verifying active duty periods. The VA examiners are requested to provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the claimed disabilities and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's additional disability of the left shoulder, including flail shoulder and loss of use of the shoulder, was not found to be due to VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or other instance of fault.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for bursitis of the shoulders, and therefore, the claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Army Reserve service records. The case will be reviewed again to determine if the Veteran has a right shoulder disability or low back disability related to his military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for an examination. The appeal will be returned to the AOJ for further action.