Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, as secondary to his service-connected low back disability. The remand requires obtaining updated medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran’s bilateral shoulder disabilities are aggravated by his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection was previously denied in 1991 due to the left shoulder strain being considered temporary. The Veteran has not submitted new and material evidence, so his request to reopen the claim is denied.

The claim for service connection for kidney stones is reopened, but the appeal remains remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claims for renal disease and systemic arthritis are also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 20 percent for neurological residuals of a right shoulder fragment wound from March 30, 2011, to March 31, 2013.,A separate 10 percent rating was granted for a Muscle Group IV injury associated with the right shoulder fragment wound from April 1, 2013. The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for neurological residuals and bilateral hearing loss were denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, and a new VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back and left shoulder disabilities due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims will be reviewed again with a focus on whether the current conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current level of severity.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is being remanded for further evaluation due to the lack of recent medical records and an updated examination.

The Board denied service connection for a condition manifested by twitching of the face and shoulders, finding no evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has remanded the claim due to missing VA treatment records and a need for an additional medical opinion. The Veteran's neck and upper spine disability is being considered secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities as the evidence did not show they were incurred in or caused by military service.

The Board has not yet made a decision on the claims and is returning them for further development due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left shoulder, low back, bilateral hip, and right ankle disabilities. The rating for post-concussion syndrome with cognitive disorder and adjustment disorder, with anxiety and insomnia is also being remanded for a higher rating.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities, which have rendered him incapable of maintaining gainful employment. His TDIU claim has been granted effective from August 8, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for sleep disturbances is denied as the condition is not separate and distinct from his already service-connected sleep disorder.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis with muscle atrophy, joint, and muscle pain in the bilateral knees is denied due to lack of radiological confirmation within the appellate period. The Veteran is already service-connected for knee disorders.,The Veteran's claim for degenerative arthritis with muscle atrophy, joint, and muscle pain in the right shoulder is remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, PTSD rating, and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need to review all issues together.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his left shoulder impingement syndrome and service connection for his left upper extremity neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds no basis for a higher rating based on limitation of motion. The Veteran’s left foot disability is currently rated as 10 percent due to residual fracture of the fifth metatarsal.,The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea are denied because there is insufficient evidence to support these claims.