Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Veteran's surgery on her service-connected left shoulder resulted in a one-month temporary total rating for convalescence, as the evidence shows she required at least four weeks of passive range of motion therapy and used a sling until April 2, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and considering all evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing and for issuance of an SOC on the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder, a bilateral elbow disorder, and a bilateral hip disorder. The evidence is in equipoise with respect to whether these disorders are related to active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder condition has been reopened, and his mood disorder is rated at the highest possible rating of 70 percent. However, he remains entitled to a higher rating for his residuals from cervical spine surgery.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are granted as service-connected.,Service connection is also granted for the right and left shoulder disabilities, but their disposition remains unknown.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and needs further examination for the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has restored the Veteran's previous 20% disability rating for his service-connected right shoulder supraspinatus tendonitis, effective from when it was last granted in November 2004.

The Board denied service connection for glaucoma, an acquired psychiatric disability, and other conditions. The Veteran appealed these decisions to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Veterans Court), which granted a joint motion vacating the May 2009 decision denying service connection for glaucoma and an acquired psychiatric disability and remanded those issues to the Board.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the appellant requested withdrawal of his appeals for increased ratings for C5-6 herniated disc, right shoulder dislocation and left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied as there is no current hearing loss disability and the maximum schedular rating available for tinnitus is 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left hip and left shoulder disabilities, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service or a service-connected disability, and therefore, denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran does not have a cervical spine disability or bilateral shoulder disability that is related to his service.,Service connection for the right lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted, but an evaluation in excess of 20 percent is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's current right knee condition, to include a right knee strain, as it is related to his combat service. The appeal seeking service connection for a right shoulder condition was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ankle fracture and left shoulder impingement disabilities have been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for the left ankle fracture prior to March 1, 2012, and at 20 percent thereafter. For the left shoulder impingement, he is rated at 10 percent. His tinnitus claim remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions related to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right shoulder disorder.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for his right shoulder disorder, which he claims was caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability and diabetes. The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder condition.