Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining missing VA treatment records and scheduling new examinations for his right shoulder and headaches.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The denial includes the new and material evidence claim for benign prostatic hyperplasia, as well as the secondary service connection claims for left shoulder acromioclavicular arthrosis, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and left arm disorder.

The Board has ordered additional development of the record to obtain private medical records and an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disabilities. The claim will be further adjudicated after this development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding issues related to PTSD and nervous condition, as well as scheduling another Board videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The claims of service connection and increased ratings are pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, TDIU, and service connection were denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right shoulder disorder. The Board finds that additional development is necessary, including obtaining VA medical examination and reviewing the claims file to clarify the etiology of any current right shoulder disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a left shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, neck disorder, low back disorder, bilateral foot disorder (other than the fractured third metatarsal), bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and headache disorder. The rating assigned remains at noncompensable throughout the entire period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of all issues on appeal due to satisfaction with her current 100 percent combined disability rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, including arthritis, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for sickle cell anemia, a left shoulder disability, a low back disability, and a skin disorder. The conditions are found to be secondary to the Veteran's preexisting sickle cell disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral shoulder disability, leg cramps, and lumbar degenerative spondylosis. The decision found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed right shoulder disability. The examiner is asked to address whether the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is related to service or his service-connected right elbow disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have consistently precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since February 2000, with the exception of a brief period in June 2010 to May 2012 when he was employed.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of current disabilities manifested by numbness in the left hand and fingers, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, or a disability manifested by numbness in the left leg. The Veteran's complaints were not supported by clinical findings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection for PTSD, stomach disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hand disability, bilateral wrist disability, bilateral ankle disability, left knee disability, traumatic head/brain injury, right shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, or left inguinal hernia, status-post surgical repair is denied.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, effective July 10, 2011. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied as the evidence did not show a prior claim filed within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder and heart conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, including VA treatment records and private treatment records. The Veteran may also be provided with a secondary service connection claim for his shoulder condition.