Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a right shoulder injury during active duty and there is no probative evidence linking a current right shoulder disability to active duty. Therefore, service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury is denied.

The Veteran has been unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities since March 5, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition, tinnitus, and an initial compensable rating for left knee scar. The evidence did not support finding a nexus between any of these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's deviated nasal septum, obstructive sleep apnea, left knee injury, low back disability (claimed as secondary to a left knee injury), right shoulder disability (claimed as right shoulder bursitis), and bilateral hearing loss are all service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability was withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his right shoulder and low back disabilities. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The March 2014 VA examiner concluded that the current right shoulder impingement is not related to his service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right foot, and left shoulder disabilities. The gastrointestinal disability was not found to be incurred in or due to his active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, especially residuals of lumbar strain, left and right knee chondromalacia, left and right ankle strains, and left and right foot plantar fasciitis with hallux valgus, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder, left shoulder, back, and right hip disabilities based on reopening of previously denied claims due to new evidence. The effective date is not specified as it was reopened.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees, hands, and shoulders. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending as there is insufficient evidence to determine whether it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and updating the claims file with any relevant medical records.

The Board has reopened the service connection claims for right shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities, as new evidence supports a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder and cervical spine disabilities were not related to his active service, as there was no evidence of any such conditions during or within one year after his discharge. The claims for these disabilities are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and a need for additional medical opinions. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent, and the claim for an increased rating was denied. The issue of entitlement to SMC based on loss of use of a hand was also denied. TDIU remains pending as it is dependent on the impact of service-connected disabilities on employment.