Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The claims are now considered on their merits.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a Social Industrial Survey and obtaining records of vocational services discussions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to address the etiology of his left shoulder disability and assess his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and social and industrial survey to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and its impact on his employability.

The Veteran's claims are mixed, with some issues granted and others not. The primary issue is the evaluation for PTSD, which remains at 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD, and the diabetes mellitus claim was not granted due to lack of in-service manifestation within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic joint pain of shoulders, wrists and ankles is a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317(a)(2), as it can be attributed to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness.

The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for a low back disability, left shoulder disability, or depressive disorder due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's additional disability was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill. The evidence did not support a finding that the event was not reasonably foreseeable.

The Board found no evidence of a shoulder disability in service and denied the Veteran's claims for right and left shoulder disabilities.,There is no evidence of a current elbow disability, and the claim was not addressed.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's left shoulder disability, but granted a 30 percent rating on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability and headache disorder have been granted service connection, with a rating of 10 percent for the right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the lack of identification of an available VA medical facility for his service-connected bronchial asthma and other conditions. The case will be readjudicated based on this information.

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and TDIU, but denied an earlier effective date and a compensable rating. The Veteran's combined disability rating was 70% prior to November 17, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining private treatment records from Guthrie Clinic/Robert Packer Hospital and Memorial Hospital of Towanda. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder condition is not etiologically related to his active service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an examination by a VA orthopedist to determine the current severity of her right and left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 60 percent for his right shoulder disability and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him at any point during the appeal period.