Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder and left shoulder disorder are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of chronicity or causation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the basis of exposure to ionizing radiation during active service was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal regarding these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left shoulder dislocation and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's discharge was due to a service-connected condition (right shoulder dislocation), meeting the eligibility criteria for VA home loan benefits.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current condition and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after his period of active duty and are not related to any incident in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence being added to the claims file and incomplete examination results. The Veteran's left shoulder disability may be related to service, but this needs further clarification from a medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder strain and found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disorder is related to his in-service injury. The claim for an increased rating for traumatic brain injury remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and gunshot wounds of the right shoulder and arm, along with his alcohol dependence, contributed to his cause of death from metabolic encephalopathy due to methanol intoxication.

The Board denied service connection for left hip and right shoulder disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected knee and ankle disabilities. The right shoulder disability was granted on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and examination of the Veteran's claims, including for a psychiatric evaluation, orthopedic evaluations, and an audiological examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder arthritis has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed left shoulder disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and chronic pain disorder.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various disabilities, including a cervical spine disorder and its secondary effects. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The case is now remanded to consider entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder and right knee conditions are service-connected, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, finding that it first manifested during active service. The Veteran's other claims of service connection are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claim of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for damaged or torn left shoulder rotator cuff due to surgical removal of a portion of the left lung is dismissed as moot because service connection was granted for this condition in a November 2015 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and determined that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, leading to a grant of TDIU.