Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA examinations and additional development of her claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a whiplash injury to the neck and shoulders requires an examination. Her hearing loss claim also needs a new VA examination, as does her TDIU claim due to her lumbar spine disability.,A VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran testified that her symptoms have worsened since the last evaluation in 2009.,The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a whiplash injury and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded, as well as her TDIU claim due to her lumbar spine disability.

The case is being remanded for additional development to ensure compliance with the Joint Motion and to address functional loss associated with the Veteran's service-connected knee and right shoulder disabilities.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right hip disability that is etiologically related to service. The claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, as well as the TDIU issue, are also being remanded.

The Veteran's GERD is found to be secondary to medications used for his service-connected left shoulder disability. The TDIU claim will also be adjudicated as part of this decision.

The Board finds that service connection is granted for sleep apnea, but denied for other conditions. The Veteran's left shoulder strain was not found to be related to his service.

The Veteran's claim for automobile and adaptive equipment is denied as he does not meet the eligibility criteria due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the June 2015 VA examiner and considering his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims of increased disability ratings for various service-connected disabilities, as well as the associated TDIU claim and several reopened claims, were denied due to her failure without good cause to report for necessary VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule VA examinations and obtain outstanding records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a right elbow disability, an initial rating for the right shoulder injury, and a disability manifested by blood in the stool are on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate rationale in the March 2014 VA examination reports and insufficient reasons or bases provided by the Board.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right rotator cuff disability was incurred as a result of active service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder tendonitis. The low back disability claim will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, rated as 20 percent disabling prior to March 28, 2011, is now rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 5201.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical, left shoulder, right shoulder, and low back disabilities had their onset during his active service in Vietnam. The evidence supports a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his left shoulder strain with chronic multi-directional instability was denied. The RO reduced the Veteran's 20% disability rating to noncompensable, effective September 1, 2009, but later restored it to 20%. The case is now remanded due to scheduling issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that none of them were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and opinions to address the current severity of her service-connected disabilities and the nature and etiology of her migraine headaches. The issues on appeal will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's bilateral giant papillary conjunctivitis is at least as likely as not related to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective May 21, 2011. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment as of April 19, 2007.