Shoulder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her cervical strain, right upper extremity disability (other than cervical radiculopathy), and asthma claims.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis for the claimed low back, bilateral flat feet, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability secondary to his right knee disability was also denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the right shoulder, post-surgical with frequent dislocation, does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder in December 2014, and the Court vacated this decision due to insufficient examination regarding congenital defects. The Veteran's claim remains pending.,A VA examiner diagnosed AC osteoarthritis in both shoulders but did not provide an opinion on whether it was related to military service.

The Board is remanding the claims for further development and an additional VA examination to address whether any new disabilities are related to VA treatment, including alcohol use.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing at the RO for issues including an increased disability rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae with acne, service connection for arthritis of the right hand and knees/shoulders, PTSD, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection have been granted, with the effective date set at October 1, 1997.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right shoulder degenerative joint disease is related to his service, and grants service connection for this condition. The other conditions are not found to be related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for vision loss and blindness, as well as his claims for PTSD, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability. The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing at the Hartford RO. Service connection claims for right shoulder injury and diabetes mellitus are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing an opinion on the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is not related to his active service and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's thoracic outlet syndrome and limitation of motion of the left shoulder are rated as a single entity at 60 percent disabling, which represents a full grant of the benefit sought on appeal. The Board also found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder and right knee disorders are related to his military service.,However, there is no current disability of the right ankle. The Veteran reported symptoms but X-rays were normal.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left shoulder and GERD with gastritis are pending. The Board finds the current evidence insufficient to grant these claims at this time.

The Veteran's service-connected IBS and migraines are currently rated at 30 percent effective October 20, 2015. The Veteran is granted a 30 percent evaluation for his IBS prior to that date, but not for an increased rating. For the period on appeal, prior to October 20, 2015, the Veteran's migraines are rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar spine and right shoulder disabilities have been rated at the minimum 10 percent level since March 15, 2013. The rating for the right shoulder disability remains at a non-compensable level.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's knee and shoulder disabilities. The claims will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder, finding that there was no increase in disability during service and that any aggravation of the pre-existing condition was due to its natural progression.