Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a sleep disorder, to include chronic obstructive sleep apnea. The evidence shows that his current sleep disorder is related to military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disability was not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right wrist disability. The rating for his right wrist disability, which had been reduced from 40% to 30%, was restored as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current left and right shoulder and/or arm disabilities, including whether they are related to service or secondary to a service-connected cervical disability.

The Board found no evidence of a right shoulder condition in service and denied the claim.,There is no evidence of a left foot skin disorder in service, and the Veteran's current symptoms are not related to his service. The claim for this condition was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to determine if the Veteran's current shoulder and neck disorders are related to his period of service. The claim will be returned to the Board after this development is completed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability should be remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of newly obtained VA treatment records.

The Board has ordered a remand for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder and right knee disorders.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been evaluated as 20 percent disabling since September 5, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating beyond this level.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left hand and fingers, left Achilles tendonitis with heel spur and degenerative joint disease (left ankle disability), and left shoulder DJD are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, bilateral knee disorder, and right shoulder disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's character of discharge from service for the period prior to February 2, 1991 was not a bar to VA benefits. However, his subsequent service during and after this period is considered dishonorable, thus barring him from receiving VA compensation benefits for any diseases or injuries incurred or aggravated during these periods.

The Veteran's current migraine headaches are etiologically related to an in-service injury, specifically a blast exposure during deployment to Iraq. The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's headache disability.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's left forearm scar, left lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral pes planus, and IBS. The Veteran was also awarded a higher rating for his right shoulder disability and right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his right shoulder disability.

From January 24, 2006 to September 1, 2008, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were sufficiently incapacitating as to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic right wrist sprain and right wrist osteoarthritis was granted. The claims for ankle, knee, and left shoulder disabilities were not addressed due to lack of diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to have manifested in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating. The right shoulder disability issue is pending further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left shoulder disorder is not related to his active military service, and thus denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 is granted as presumptively service connected due to in-service herbicide exposure. The claims for left and right arm/shoulder strain are remanded for further examination.