Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, finding no competent medical evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is less likely than not caused by or aggravated by his military service, as there is no evidence of a pre-existing injury and the most probable cause is attributed to a fall in 2010.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is not more than 10 percent disabling, and her claim for an increased rating has been denied.

The Board found no diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for this condition. The claim for a left shoulder disorder remains pending.

The Board found no current disability in any of the claimed conditions and thus denied service connection for low back disorder, right knee disorder, right thumb disorder, and bilateral shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is found to have developed during his active service, warranting service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis is related to his active service and grants this claim. The issues of asthma and right shoulder condition are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as schizophrenia. The Veteran's right shoulder disorder claim is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability and granted it, finding new and material evidence had been received since the October 2005 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a right shoulder disability in service or within the first post-service year, and concluded that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, excluding his mental health disability (PTSD), are as likely as not of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder tendonitis with impingement, hypertension, and headaches have been granted.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's low back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left shoulder and low back disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was incurred in wartime service and is granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and consideration of updated treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case back to the Board for further development and clarification due to issues related to service connection for a right hip disorder, left shoulder disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and TDIU.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent since July 28, 2014. The gastrointestinal disability remains at a non-compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial evaluations of his left shoulder disability and low back strain were denied. The claim for TDIU was also denied.