Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's left shoulder condition is found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted. The issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for herniated nucleus pulposus of the right paracentral C5-6 remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule new VA examinations for his right knee, right shoulder, and left wrist disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle, right wrist, left wrist, and right shoulder disabilities, as well as PTSD. The TDIU claim is being remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress and chronic sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability are met.

The Veteran's hypertension and right shoulder disability have been granted service connection, but the hypertension does not warrant a compensable rating. The right shoulder disability is rated at 20%.

The Board has found the record incomplete and has ordered additional efforts to obtain VA treatment records from 1986-1987 and private medical records. The appeal is REMANDED for these actions.

The Veteran's left knee disability, resulting from a motorcycle accident in service and eventually requiring total knee replacement surgery, is found to be related to his active duty service. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of high cholesterol, hypertension, sleep apnea, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, right knee disability, low back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral elbow disability have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran at his hearing. The appeal for service connection on the issue of right hip disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his records.

The Veteran's diabetes type II is not related to his military service. The Board finds that VA examinations are needed for the left shoulder, left foot, and back disabilities.

The Veteran is entitled to SMC at the highest level due to his need for aid and attendance, including help with daily activities such as bathing, feeding, dressing, and managing medications. His condition requires substantial care on a daily basis.

The Veteran's appeals are being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess his left shoulder, right ankle, and skin disabilities. The claims will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left shoulder disorder, as well as his claims for increased evaluations of multiple shell fragment wound scars on various parts of the body, were granted. The effective date is February 24, 2000.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from February 27, 2014, forward. The TDIU was not granted for the period from July 2, 2010 to February 27, 2014 as the threshold percentage requirements were not met.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, bursitis and arthritis, was not incurred in service. The other conditions were also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including the association of SSA records and additional VA examinations to evaluate his current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is service connected, but his heart condition, hypertension, and OSA are not service connected as they did not develop during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine if there are any characteristic prostrating attacks related to his migraine headaches.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to service, with the Board finding that all reasonable doubt should be resolved in his favor. The right shoulder condition claim is pending and will require further examination and evidence review before a decision can be made.