Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral knee disorders did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter and are not otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and a videoconference hearing before the Board as to the merits of the service connection claim for a left shoulder disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease (DJD), but denied service connection for a left shoulder disability.

The Board denied all service connection claims, including for a neck condition, neuritis associated with shoulder conditions, unspecified bodily injury, unspecified severed nerve condition, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and bone disease/arthritis. The Veteran's service records were reviewed, but no direct or secondary service connection was established.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's original claim was denied in 1994, and no additional evidence has been provided within one year of that decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for heart disease, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, back disability, and neck disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to arrange for a new hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck condition and right knee condition (secondary to left knee condition), but these claims are still pending as new evidence does not establish a clear link between the conditions and service.,Service connection is granted for the neck condition, while the right knee and left arm/shoulder conditions remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his right shoulder degenerative joint disease and lumbar strain with spondylosis, finding that the current assigned ratings were appropriate.

The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to his death. The claims for service connection for depression, arthritis, and right shoulder pain are dismissed as the Veteran died before a decision could be made on these issues. The appeal for an increased disability rating for hepatitis C is also dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service. The appeal for a higher initial rating for his left thumb disorder and TDIU is also denied.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was rated as 10 percent prior to January 30, 2013, and denied for a higher rating. Since January 30, 2013, the disability has not met the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left shoulder, back, and hypertension disabilities are not service-connected as there is no evidence of chronicity since service or a link between current disability and service.

The Board has restored the Veteran's right shoulder disability rating from 40 percent to 40 percent effective November 1, 2008.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and a higher rating for his service-connected right wrist disability. The case is REMANDED to issue an SOC on the latter issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and right shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is found to be etiologically related to a disease, injury, or event that occurred during service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection based on exposure to chemicals and/or environmental hazards in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death. The issues on appeal were whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen a claim of residuals of head trauma, and the entitlement to service connection for various disabilities.