Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for multiple joint pain and myalgia are denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these claims. The Veteran is therefore not entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of left malleolus and distal fibula fracture, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The other issues regarding degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder and left knee are also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His left shoulder osteoarthritis was rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5201.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA aid and attendance/housebound examination. The claims for increased ratings will also be adjudicated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and his claim to reopen asbestosis was not reopened. His psychiatric disability and COPD were found not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims. The issues include service connection, increased rating, and initial compensable rating for his left shoulder disabilities.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran incurred or aggravated a bilateral shoulder disability during service. The medical and lay evidence does not support a nexus between current bilateral shoulder disabilities and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current symptomatology of his service-connected right shoulder strain, including any limitation of motion during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the Veteran's spine and shoulder disabilities. The issues of service connection are still pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a nexus opinion on the Veteran's bilateral shoulder condition and addressing the issue of a temporary total disability rating following right shoulder surgery.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder dislocation does not warrant an extraschedular evaluation, as his symptoms do not present such an exceptional or unusual disability picture with related factors like marked interference with employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and hemorrhoid disabilities, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran requested the withdrawal of his appeal in its entirety, and the Board has received this request. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide the Veteran with appropriate examinations for his claimed conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, finding clear and convincing evidence against the claim. The issue of an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss disability is also addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and examinations to address the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to an inadequate VA examination in October 2013, which did not comply with the August 2013 remand instructions. The Veteran's service connection claim is being returned to the AOJ for additional development.