Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for a right arm disability (to include shoulder and hand).

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for an SOC on his increased rating claim and a VA examination to determine if he meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU.

Service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy was granted.,The Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tendinitis prior to September 30, 2010, did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.,The Veteran's left shoulder rotator cuff tendinitis prior to September 30, 2010, did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.,Since August 22, 2011, the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease was rated at 30%.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and hearing loss in the right ear, finding no evidence of current disabilities or in-service injuries that could be linked to these conditions.

All issues related to service connection have been granted. The Veteran's cluster headaches are rated at 50% effective October 1, 2010.

The Board has determined that the September 2014 VA examination did not provide a fully responsive opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed left and right shoulder disabilities. The issues of service connection for these conditions are therefore remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to service connection for bilateral tinea pedis, multiple joint pain indicative of an undiagnosed illness, and a left shoulder disorder.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee, right shoulder, and right ankle disabilities. This includes obtaining a new VA examination to assess the current severity of these conditions and obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis B was not incurred during service and is not related to his military service. The remaining issues of service connection for knee meniscal tears, disc disease with chronic low back pain, sleep apnea, and shoulder rotator cuff tears were denied as well.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral familial hand tremors and right shoulder degenerative arthritis are service-connected as they had their onset during his active duty periods.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left shoulder and hip disabilities, and an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for service-connected depressive disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and major depression, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to April 9, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's right shoulder disability. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability was not caused by VA care on October 22, 2005. The evidence did not show any causation or aggravation of his condition as a result of VA treatment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to an outstanding Travel Board hearing request. The case will be returned to the AOJ for scheduling a new hearing.

The Board denied increased ratings for various conditions, finding that the Veteran did not have a currently diagnosed psychiatric disability and that his spondylotic changes at the right side of the sternum were not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected back disability, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability. The additional evidence relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating such claim.