Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional treatment records. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected right shoulder disability is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability was not present in service or until many years thereafter and is not otherwise etiologically related to service; nor has it been proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability. As such, the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability is denied.

The Veteran's joint pain, left knee disorder, and left hip disorder were not found to be related to service or the Persian Gulf War. The Board denied these claims as there was no evidence of a qualifying chronic disability for service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been reopened and granted. His malaria is rated at a compensable level (30%). The Veteran also has service-connected disabilities that preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and inextricably intertwined with his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of any left shoulder disability found to be present. The examiner must address whether any left shoulder disability is related to service or due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a thoracic spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right shoulder disability for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder impingement syndrome, which manifested as dislocation of the clavicle or scapula prior to April 2, 2014, warrants a rating of 20 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability and granted it, finding that new evidence raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is being remanded for additional development, including the consideration of new VA treatment records from the 1980s. The Board will determine if his current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to unclear employment status and the need for a VA examination to assess his ability to secure or follow gainful employment.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for residuals of pseudofolliculitis barbae is granted.,Service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder, residuals of a fractured left great toe, residuals of a fractured right thumb, and residuals of an injured left hamstring are denied.,Service connection for a neck disorder is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease and his appeal regarding a higher rating for degenerative joint disease (left shoulder) remains pending.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the issues of service connection for right index and long finger proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) osteoarthritis, left index and long finger proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) osteoarthritis, right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, characterized by pain, weakness, and limited forward flexion to 85 degrees with pain, has been rated at 20 percent since February 27, 2008. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that there is no current right shoulder disability and the neck condition is not related to service or a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and notifying the Veteran of his right to report for the examination. The appeal is not yet decided on the merits.

The Veteran's left knee and right shoulder disabilities have been evaluated based on their direct service connection, but the evidence does not support an extraschedular evaluation for either condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and lower back condition. The evidence is in equipoise as to the question of continuous symptoms with regard to these conditions.