Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy was incurred during service and is granted as service connection. However, further examination is needed to determine if any other right shoulder disability is related to service or any other service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability ratings for lumbosacral strain and right shoulder strain was granted, with effective dates set at August 23, 2016.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a right shoulder condition that he claims was aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability. The Board has directed the VA to obtain an opinion regarding whether the pre-existing right shoulder condition worsened during service and if so, whether it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disability as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder, low back, and right knee disabilities. The issue of service connection for neuropathy of the left upper extremity is also granted.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of a left shoulder disorder and bilateral hearing loss due to his withdrawal during the December 2017 hearing. The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and concluded that any pre-existing hearing loss did not worsen during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left shoulder disability is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is granted for a temporary 100% disability rating from August 1, 2016 to August 1, 2017. The claim of entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for left shoulder, status-post prosthetic joint replacement from August 1, 2017 is denied. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, migraine headache disability, acid reflux, left elbow disability, low back disability, right hand disability, and right shoulder disability. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of these conditions and that they were not related to service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including degenerative arthritis and recurrent dislocation, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board has granted a separate rating of 20 percent for recurrent dislocation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to confirm the Veteran's periods of active duty service, obtain missing service treatment records, and schedule VA examinations for the claimed disabilities. The appeal will be remanded to complete these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, particularly regarding his service-connected coronary artery disease, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and left shoulder disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn, and her claims for a left shoulder strain, low back disability, upper face numbness, diabetes, and bulimia are denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease resulting in current disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disorder and granted it. The issue of service connection for a skin disorder is also addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's hypertension, cervical spine disability, lumbar spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease, and right shoulder replacement (dominant) are all rated at their maximum possible evaluations under the applicable diagnostic codes.,The Veteran is not entitled to special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another prior to January 1, 2013 or beginning March 1, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a new VA medical opinion considering all of her service-connected disabilities, including her newly granted left shoulder disability.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability due to a gunshot wound (GSW) of muscle group I, finding that the Veteran's current right shoulder condition is not related to his service-connected MG I injury. The TDIU claim was also denied as there is no evidence showing the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability due to lack of information regarding flare-ups and functional loss during such events. The claim is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between his current condition and active military service.