Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, but not for his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of multiple disabilities was denied, and the appellant did not establish eligibility to accrued benefits due to lack of evidence of expenses related to last sickness or burial.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle, knee, shoulder (left and right), and low back disorders as secondary to his service-connected right ankle and right knee disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing an addendum medical opinion regarding the relationship between his cervical spine condition and service-connected right shoulder disability. The VA examiner will also provide opinions on whether the Veteran's cervical spine condition was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the cervical spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, and bilateral hearing loss claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder strain, including surgery residuals, has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea was withdrawn.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and multiple other conditions, have rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The AOJ has determined that she is entitled to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal of all issues.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right shoulder degenerative arthritis status post-separation and surgical repair with scar, effective from June 2014. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating prior to that date.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant an increased rating as they do not result in abduction of the arm to less than 25 degrees from the side.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the bilateral knees, hips, and shoulders is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions. The claims file will be returned to the VA examiner who provided the September 2014 opinion for additional assessments and opinions.

The Veteran's left shoulder osteoarthritis was not manifested by range of motion limited to midway between the side and shoulder level from November 2, 2007 to November 3, 2013. From January 1, 2015 to November 10, 2016 and since February 1, 2017, his left shoulder osteoarthritis was manifested by chronic residuals consisting of severe, painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is related to his in-service injury resulting in a right patella fracture, and thus service connection for this condition is granted. The preponderance of evidence does not support service connection for left shoulder or gastritis disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations and a total disability rating were denied. The Board found that the effective date for service connection of degenerative changes to both knees with fibromyalgia should be March 26, 2009.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension have been granted. The remaining claims are pending.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for a respiratory disability and left foot disability remain pending as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen them.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the cause remains unknown due to conflicting dates provided by the Veteran.,Service connection is denied for vitiligo. The cause remains unknown due to conflicting dates provided by the Veteran.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for a left ankle disability and shoulder disability remain pending as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen them.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left arm disability, and left leg disability remain pending as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen them.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the increased rating claims for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and tinnitus. He also withdrew his service connection claim for fibromyalgia.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder injury (claimed as bilateral shoulder injury/pain), left shoulder injury (claimed as bilateral shoulder injury/pain), right leg injury (claimed as bilateral leg injury/pain), and left leg injury (claimed as bilateral leg injury/pain). The Veteran has not appealed these decisions.