Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of spinal surgery and left shoulder disability have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, depression, recurrent dislocation of the right shoulder, and degenerative arthritis remains pending. The Board finds that VA medical opinions are necessary to decide those claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, erectile dysfunction, and trigeminal neuralgia as secondary to his service-connected multiple sclerosis. The Veteran was not granted any compensable evaluation for his trigeminal neuralgia.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete compliance with a previous remand directive and failure to obtain medical records from Carraway Methodist Medical Center. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is found to be caused by service-connected spondylosis deformans, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, and he is now entitled to a temporary total disability rating for convalescent purposes following surgery for fungus infection of the feet from March 1, 2010 to April 1, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and service connection is granted.,Service connection is also granted for a right knee disability. The Veteran's left shoulder disability remains at the initial 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's dysthymic disorder to include OCD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, which reflects significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI is related to his in-service parachute accident, and service connection for this condition is granted. Other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bulging discs in the cervical spine and reopened claims for claw toe deformity, bilateral post-operative, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability. The examiner found no clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's claw toe condition pre-existed service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to August 17, 2009 were denied as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records, Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records, and private medical records. The Veteran's left shoulder and right hand disabilities will also be examined to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's thoracic spine, left shoulder, left knee, left ankle, right ankle/foot, eye, stomach, leg numbness, and heart disabilities are not service-connected. The psychiatric disability is also not service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants TDIU.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection as it had its onset during his active duty. The issues of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were withdrawn by the Veteran before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's PTSD and carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist are currently rated appropriately. The claim for service connection for elbow and shoulder pain is denied as it is part of his existing carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury and tinnitus have been reopened, and the evidence is in equipoise on whether these conditions are related to service. Service connection has been granted for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and cervical spine disability are service-connected, but his bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disability have not been established as service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hammertoes, calluses of the feet, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine due to a fall during VA medical treatment. The right shoulder disorder is also granted as a result of the same incident.

The Board denied service connection for syncope, recurrent dislocation of left shoulder, and right knee condition as the evidence did not establish a relationship to service.