Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is presumed to have been incurred as a result of her service in the Southwest Asia theater during the Persian Gulf War. Service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, including osteoarthritis, is granted based on objective indications of chronic disability resulting from undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for head injuries, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disability are denied as there is no evidence of a current condition or aggravation during service. The preexisting left shoulder dislocation was aggravated by service.

The Board found no current neurological disorder of the right lower extremity and denied service connection for this condition.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a current left shoulder disability, and the Board concluded that any such disability was more likely due to the Veteran's occupation as a barber.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disorder is etiologically related to his service, and thus service connection for a right shoulder disability is granted.

The Veteran's left shoulder degenerative joint disease did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to January 5, 2012. From January 5, 2012, his disability was rated as 10 percent due to limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability and TDIU have been remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration disability benefits records. The case will be readjudicated after the development.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder injury, trigeminal neuralgia, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's left shoulder injury is considered to be due to an in-service combat-related injury. His trigeminal neuralgia is found to have been incurred during service, with the onset of symptoms occurring in 1991. His obstructive sleep apnea is determined to be secondary to his service-connected trigeminal neuralgia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for various conditions, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted since previous denials.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature, etiology, and date of onset of his right shoulder injury, trigeminal neuralgia, and hypertension. The claims will be reviewed again after this additional development.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection and to reopen the claims of service connection for several conditions, including left knee condition, right shoulder condition, right knee condition, left shoulder condition, cephalalgia, back condition, and right foot condition. As a result, all appeals are dismissed.

The Board found no evidence of an in-service injury to the right shoulder and denied service connection for a right shoulder condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his left shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent for the left shoulder disability or in excess of 10 percent for either knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed left shoulder strain had its onset during his active duty military service and granted service connection for this disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is not related to his in-service injury or service-connected disabilities, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current left shoulder or right knee disabilities, and his claim for presbyopia is denied as it is considered a congenital defect.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities and left knee disability are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 20 percent, since July 3, 2008, for hemorrhoids has been granted. The Board also found that the Veteran had recurrent internal and external hemorrhoids, required prescription medication, had a narrow anal-rectal ring, a papilloma/polyp, a skin tag, chronic anorectal fissure/ulcer, persistent pain, complication prolapse, and underwent resection and associated skin tag and open lateral internal sphincterotomy. The Veteran's claim for service connection for Raynaud's Syndrome and a right shoulder disorder is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder and left foot conditions were granted initial compensable ratings, while her right shoulder scars and right foot plantar fasciitis with heel spurs received the same initial rating.