Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's right hand disability has been rated at 30 percent since March 2006. A separate 10 percent rating for nerve damage to the right hand digits is granted.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability and shoulder disability, both secondary to service-connected right hand disability, is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation for his right shoulder disability was withdrawn, and the Board dismissed the appeal due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder and knee disabilities, specifically degenerative joint disease, are at least in relative equipoise with his service-connected right knee disability. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions as secondary to his right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and a need to review the Veteran's medical history.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and thus denies his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition. The GERD issue remains pending as a new VA examination is required due to potential presumptive service connection under Gulf War criteria. The bilateral shoulder condition issue also requires further development, including a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting dislocations of the left shoulder were not aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection for bursitis of the left shoulder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion regarding his claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for bilateral knee disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and panic attacks as the result of a VA bone scan on April 30, 2010.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for shoulder, back, and neck disabilities but finds that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, including his left upper trunk plexopathy, is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and a higher rating for his right knee disability, as well as the TDIU claim, have been dismissed due to withdrawal of these claims by the Veteran prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's appeal is granted for increased ratings in various areas, including coronary artery disease and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The reduction of the rating for left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy from 10 percent to noncompensable was found proper.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left shoulder disability and obstructive sleep apnea has been remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training, as well as to obtain updated VA treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and thus denied her claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if he has a current right shoulder disorder related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right shoulder disability had its onset in service and grants service connection for a right shoulder rotator cuff tendinosis with partial tear.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's service connection claims, particularly his left arm and shoulder disorders. The Veteran is also required to provide any additional relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that his current sleep apnea is related to service or a service-connected disability. His posttraumatic stress disorder has been rated at 70% since August 11, 2010.