Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining new VA examinations and opinions to address his service connection claims for various conditions. The issues include right shoulder disorder, bilateral hand and feet cold injury residuals, shin splints, and a bilateral foot disability.

The Board found that service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, and right knee disability is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The evidence does not establish that the Veteran's right and left shoulder conditions were incurred in or caused by his service, or manifested within one year of his separation from service; nor does it establish that they were caused or aggravated by his service-connected cervical spine or bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities have been rated based on instability, with the right humerus disability and right and left shoulder limitation of motion being separately rated. The ratings are granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck and right shoulder disabilities are not related to her service, and therefore denied her claims for service connection.

The case is being remanded for additional development to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine condition, and right shoulder condition. The VA examiners are asked to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service noise exposure and motor vehicle accident.

Your appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing. Your claims for service connection are still pending.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hernia (residuals of bone growth in the abdomen and pubic symphysis exostosis) is granted. The claims for right shoulder injury, genitourinary disorder (nocturia), and plantar fasciitis are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of his right shoulder and stomach disabilities, as well as a higher rating for his low back disability, were denied. The Veteran's kidney disability was not found to be related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits, finding that the earliest date of claim was June 17, 2009.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for the residuals of a left shoulder injury and a cervical spine injury. The appellant's injuries were incurred in a motor vehicle accident, but she was not on active duty or reserve status at the time.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for a jaw disability and right shoulder disability. The new evidence received is considered material as it relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to determine the appropriate evaluations for his service-connected knee conditions, right shoulder disability, and right wrist disability. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including a current VA examination. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to clarify the nature and etiology of her claimed right shoulder disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder disability and denied service connection for left shoulder disability. The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 60 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available following one year of post-surgery status post total knee replacement.

The Veteran's hypertension, left leg varicose veins condition, right leg varicose veins condition, and skin condition are being remanded for further development. The Veteran's left shoulder disability is not currently service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to secure an adequate VA examination and clarify the findings related to additional functional impairment following repeated use and occupational impairment due to the right shoulder.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to September 8, 2016 was granted. The effective date of the TDIU is set at January 31, 2011 as this is when the Veteran first became eligible for a TDIU on a schedular basis.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and a low back disability, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Appellant's current symptoms are not shown to be directly related to his military service.