Shoulder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been denied. The May 2009 rating decision granting a 10 percent rating for his left shoulder disability from January 30, 2009 is not final.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA medical examiner to address whether the Veteran's bilateral ankle and shoulder disabilities are secondary to her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran is also seeking clarification on the status of her claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder and right knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to a service-connected disability. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of her right shoulder tendinopathy claim. Her service connection claim for migraines remains pending.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for right shoulder disability but denied it on the merits, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to the injury sustained during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and adjudication, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the etiology of his bilateral foot disability, right shoulder disability, and low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings in regard to his service-connected back, right shoulder, and left knee disabilities is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that has not yet been reviewed by the AOJ.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed bilateral knee or bilateral shoulder disability, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a torn right bicep tendon is being remanded due to the need for additional treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to determine the nature and etiology of his neck and left shoulder conditions, including whether they are related to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to January 2014, but has since been rated at the maximum schedular rating.,For the period between January 2014 and November 2015, the Veteran's right shoulder disability did not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 20 percent assigned.,From November 2015 to January 2016, the Veteran's right shoulder disability did not meet the criteria for a higher than 30 percent rating.,Since January 2016, the Veteran has been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 40 percent for his right shoulder disability.,For the period prior to January 2016, the Veteran's left shoulder disability did not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 20 percent assigned.,Since January 2016, the Veteran has been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 30 percent for his left shoulder disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a back condition, a right shoulder disability, and a cervical disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Board found that there was no in-service event or injury related to these disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented her from securing or following gainful employment at any point during the appeal period, including prior to or after November 9, 2007.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for bilateral hearing loss, right upper extremity numbness, and right lower extremity numbness during the September 2017 Board hearing. The remaining issues of service connection are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.,Service connection was granted for anxiety disorder, basal cell cancer of the nose, and arthritis, facet joint L5-S1.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not due to a disability, disease or injury incurred or aggravated by service. The service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to cause his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for a VA examination to determine the nature, onset, and etiology of any foot or left shoulder disability found to be present.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder and right knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a current diagnosis of a tear of the anterior supraspinatus and conjoined tendon. The left knee disability issue is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's request for an increased rating for his left knee disability remains pending.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings and TDIU for the conditions listed, citing that he had been granted a 100 percent disability rating for his heart condition.