Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities and whether they are related to service. The case is therefore being REMANDED for further action.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current right shoulder condition is related to his military service or manifested within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining STRs from Heidelberg Army Hospital and scheduling a VA examination to address whether the Veteran's right wrist disability is related to service or his military duties.

The Veteran's respiratory condition is not service connected as it is linked to her long-term smoking habit.,Clubbing of fingernails and toenails are considered secondary to the respiratory condition.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and ensuring proper consideration of all submitted evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and verification of exposure to pesticides in Iraq. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine, shoulders, knees, and ankles have been denied. The Veteran was granted a compensable rating for his left foot status post fracture of the third toe.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability had its onset in service. The issues of increased ratings for the right shoulder disability and scar, right shoulder are remanded.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for arthritis of the left shoulder, finding that the earliest effective date is September 30, 2009, based on when the Veteran's claim to reopen was received.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis of the right shoulder began in service and continues to this day, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and a video-conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left shoulder impingement syndrome, right ankle degenerative joint disease, and left ankle sprain and degenerative changes.

The Board has ordered another VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disability, specifically whether it is related to service or aggravated by a pre-existing condition. The case is now remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective March 21, 2009. Service connection for right and left knee disabilities, left shoulder disability, and bilateral pes planus are granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as he does not have current diagnoses of the claimed conditions and there is no evidence linking any in-service events to his current disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for BCC of the head, face, and neck prior to May 11, 2010.

The Veteran's current left shoulder, left ankle and status post fracture of the rib disabilities are reasonably shown to have resulted from falls due to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has found no evidence of an in-service incurrence or a nexus between the Veteran's current neck, left hand, low back, and right shoulder disabilities and his military service. As such, the claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the Veteran's current arthritis of the neck, back, shoulders, hands, knees, and ankles as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in or within one year following service.

The Board granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent rating for cholinergic urticaria, effective from the date of the decision. The ratings for right knee musculoligamentous strain, right shoulder strain (major extremity), and right ankle sprain remain unchanged.