Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew from appellate consideration the issues on appeal, including the increased rating claim for degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, and the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, glaucoma, bilateral gynecomastia, status post subcutaneous mastectomy, left and right knee disorders, left and right shoulder disorders, a cervical spine disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his right shoulder disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied a separate rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy and the TDIU claim. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU, but are considered to be so severe as to preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral wrist disability were denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's neck, back, cervical radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disorders are not causally related to or worsened by the service-connected right elbow recurrent ganglion cyst.

The Veteran is seeking a TDIU from November 6, 2006 to December 23, 2008. The Board has determined that the case should be remanded for consideration of extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine the nature and etiology of his lower back disability. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is also inextricably intertwined with these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease with spondylosis, previously considered as low back condition, to include secondary to right shoulder bursitis is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the functional equivalent to the loss of use of a foot, warranting automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Board has not decided the service connection for left shoulder disability and drug addiction, but granted an extension of time to file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) regarding the April 25, 2011 rating decision on the NOD for the lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for multiple spinal and shoulder disabilities, including those allegedly incurred during active duty training (ADT) on June 12, 2004. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the ADT period and obtain relevant medical records.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left ulnar neuropathy and left shoulder tendinopathy/tear are related to service. However, further development is needed for the issue of right ulnar neuropathy (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment at any time since October 4, 2016.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities were not incurred or related to service, including as secondary to falls from service-connected knee disabilities. The claim for an increased rating on an extraschedular basis for a left knee disability was also denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder and lumbosacral spine disabilities were aggravated by an error in judgment or an event not reasonably foreseeable, warranting compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development of medical evidence, including a new VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability did not manifest during service and is not causally related to or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The claim for secondary service connection is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment and personnel records, as well as a need for additional examination regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to assess the combined effect of all his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work, including his now service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for either a left shoulder or low back disability.