Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No decisions were made on the merits of any claims.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure that all relevant evidence has been considered in connection with the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's right shoulder tendonitis and left shoulder bursitis have been granted service connection, with each condition rated at a 10% disability rating.

The Veteran's right shoulder surgery on May 7, 2008 resulted in post-operative diagnoses of impingement syndrome and degenerative joint disease. The Board finds that the criteria for a temporary total rating based on need for convalescence do not meet as the effective date for service connection was June 9, 2008, which predates the surgery.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for CVA and hypertension, as well as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD. The claim to reopen the issue of service connection for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD and right shoulder rotator cuff tendinitis with impingement and degenerative joint disease, as well as entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a right shoulder injury is granted, with no specific rating assigned and no effective date provided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete development and potential consideration of undiagnosed illness or multi-symptom illnesses.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, right shoulder impingement syndrome, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right deltoid scar) render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's Sprengel's deformity of the left shoulder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and opinions regarding specific diagnoses and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied on all issues related to his service-connected conditions, with no new evidence provided that would warrant reopening the claims.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed before the claims for service connection can be fully adjudicated.

The Veteran's left shoulder, right knee, and bilateral hand numbness disabilities have not been shown to be related to service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, and will reconsider them after obtaining additional STRs.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at a maximum of 50 percent since July 23, 2015. His right shoulder tendonitis remains at the 10 percent rating. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for his pseudofolliculitis barbae and onychomycosis.

The Board is remanding the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from relevant facilities and notifying the Veteran of any inability to obtain requested documents.