Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder and an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for major depression, but denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than major depression.

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

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and found that new evidence supports a finding of service connection for his bilateral shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome with radiculopathy and left arm numbness, and left shoulder disability are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is proximately due to his service-connected left shoulder disability, and thus grants the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee and shoulder disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left shoulder disability has been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of his left shoulder, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, cervical disc disease, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, and right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis. These conditions are related to the Veteran's Reserve service duties.

The Veteran is granted service connection for depression as secondary to her service-connected trigeminal neuralgia. Her TDIU claim from April 1, 2012 is also granted.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to pancreatic and colon cancer, which were not service-connected. The appellant did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. His left shoulder disability is rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 5051, while his asbestosis does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder condition. The Veteran is presumed to have had a pre-existing right shoulder condition, which was aggravated by his period of ACDUTRA in June 1955.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities are not service-connected as they are not shown to have developed due to in-service injury or disease, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The right wrist disability does not warrant a rating greater than 10 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of service connection for a right shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder condition, which is claimed to be related to his service-connected low back disability, has been remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was reduced from 40 percent to 10 percent, effective November 1, 2008. The increased evaluation for the right shoulder is granted.,The Veteran's endometriosis claim has been reopened and service connection is granted.,The Veteran's hypertension, gastrointestinal disability, sleep disorder, vision disorder, and respiratory disability are not service-connected.,The Veteran meets criteria for a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left elbow scars, right shoulder arthritis, and onychomycosis are not related to service. The Veteran's Hodgkin's disease is currently active or in a treatment phase.