Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral familial hand tremors and right shoulder degenerative arthritis are service-connected as they had their onset during his active duty periods.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left shoulder and hip disabilities, and an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for service-connected depressive disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and major depression, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to April 9, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's right shoulder disability. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability was not caused by VA care on October 22, 2005. The evidence did not show any causation or aggravation of his condition as a result of VA treatment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to an outstanding Travel Board hearing request. The case will be returned to the AOJ for scheduling a new hearing.

The Board denied increased ratings for various conditions, finding that the Veteran did not have a currently diagnosed psychiatric disability and that his spondylotic changes at the right side of the sternum were not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected back disability, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability. The additional evidence relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating such claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities are not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking them to his active duty. The claim for an increased rating for the residuals of a left third metatarsal stress fracture was granted with a 10 percent rating effective October 30, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is not etiologically related to his active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and needs further development before a final decision can be made on the service connection claim for left shoulder disability.

The Board has found that the Veteran's postoperative residuals of a right shoulder dislocation with arthritis are manifested by limitation of motion to midway between side and shoulder level, which is more than what his current 20% rating reflects. The Board has therefore granted a disability rating of 30 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's left shoulder girdle myofascial pain syndrome is manifested by, at worst, left shoulder abduction to 20 degrees. The criteria for a disability rating of 30 percent have been met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right shoulder, bilateral wrist, bilateral elbow, and bilateral knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left shoulder disability did not manifest during military service, did not continue since service, and was not caused by a disease or injury while on active duty. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected conditions, and denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraines, a low back disability, a neck disability, and a right shoulder disability, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for all issues except the entitlement to an extended period of a temporary total rating for convalescence status-post total right knee replacement, which has been remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder condition is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.