Shoulder Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's character of discharge from service for the period prior to February 2, 1991 was not a bar to VA benefits. However, his subsequent service during and after this period is considered dishonorable, thus barring him from receiving VA compensation benefits for any diseases or injuries incurred or aggravated during these periods.

The Veteran's current migraine headaches are etiologically related to an in-service injury, specifically a blast exposure during deployment to Iraq. The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's headache disability.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's left forearm scar, left lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral pes planus, and IBS. The Veteran was also awarded a higher rating for his right shoulder disability and right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his right shoulder disability.

From January 24, 2006 to September 1, 2008, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were sufficiently incapacitating as to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic right wrist sprain and right wrist osteoarthritis was granted. The claims for ankle, knee, and left shoulder disabilities were not addressed due to lack of diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to have manifested in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating. The right shoulder disability issue is pending further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left shoulder disorder is not related to his active military service, and thus denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 is granted as presumptively service connected due to in-service herbicide exposure. The claims for left and right arm/shoulder strain are remanded for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to inadequate VA examination and other procedural issues.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his service-connected right shoulder bursitis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of motion sufficient to warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right shoulder disorders are not related to his military service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD with MDD, left shoulder condition, right and left knee conditions, pseudofolliculitis barbae, tinnitus, and right knee condition, have resulted in a combined rating of 90 percent. The Veteran is therefore eligible for TDIU.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral shoulders, as it did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed due to lack of pending claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right shoulder disability. The issue of entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Unemployability (TDIU) will be deferred until the increased rating claim is resolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder, tendonitis, is caused by his service-connected right shoulder disability and grants service connection for this condition as secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's other claims have been dismissed due to his withdrawal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining Workers' Compensation records and a VA examination addendum opinion.