Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal involves reopening of previously denied claims for service connection due to exposure to contaminated water while stationed at Camp Lejeune. The Board has ordered additional development including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records, as well as scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. The Board grants the benefit sought on a secondary theory of entitlement.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, sleep apnea, and a neck disability. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from November 21, 2003, but his TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, and he was assigned a 10 percent evaluation for his right knee strain. The other issues related to the Veteran's conditions have also been resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records review.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently evaluated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that this evaluation adequately reflects his current level of impairment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, and his right shoulder strain is denied. The lower back disability claim remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and etiological opinions. The Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, right hand disability (to include as secondary to neck disability), and neck disability are being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder strain with right upper extremity neuropathy was aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected left shoulder arthritis with history of recurrent dislocations is denied as the evidence does not show that his disability picture more nearly approximates limitation of motion to midway between the side and shoulder level.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a right shoulder disability, a right hip disability, and a back disability are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide new examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for new examinations and clarification of previous opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a clarifying medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine osteoarthritis caused or aggravated his current hip, shoulder, and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to be 90 percent disabling, but they do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic left shoulder rotator cuff tendinitis, bilateral chronic infrapatellar bursitis with associated patellofemoral syndrome, and bilateral chronic ankle ligament strain with mild laxity. These conditions are deemed to be related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and clarification of her conditions, as well as to address the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's right shoulder tendonitis claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for an orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and wrist disabilities were denied as there was no evidence of ankylosis or impairment of the contiguous joint, and the functional loss did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disorder and remanded it for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current left shoulder disorder is related to his service-connected gunshot wound residuals, and whether it was aggravated by that condition. The examiner should also consider additional evidence not previously reviewed.