Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left ankle, hip, and shoulder disorders are not related to his period of service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, low back, and left shoulder disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the passage of time and failure to reschedule VA examinations for her service-connected conditions, as well as new claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee and right shoulder disabilities have been granted, with the effective date set at the date of the decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling new examinations for his thoracic spine, right shoulder, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected knee disabilities, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a right hand or right arm and shoulder disability that is related to his service-connected amputation of the middle phalanx of the right ring finger. The evidence did not show continuity of symptoms since service, and there was no credible evidence of arthritis within one year of service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain inpatient service treatment records, provide the Veteran with VA medical examinations and opinions, and obtain relevant outstanding post-service treatment records.

The Veteran's current left shoulder degenerative joint disease is not related to service, and there is no evidence of a dental disorder for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran contends that his current right shoulder disorder is due to a fall associated with his service-connected left knee disorder. The Board has decided the case should be remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a left hip disability, heart disease (coronary artery disease), and right shoulder disability have been denied as the evidence does not establish a direct relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a VA medical examination to address the issues of service connection for left-sided neuropathy due to chemical exposure and myofascial pain related to the neck.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent since July 24, 2007. The Board finds that the current evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, bilateral heel spurs, bilateral knee disability, left foot disability, and bilateral shoulder disability as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for left shoulder impingement syndrome is granted at a 20 percent rating effective February 7, 2011. The other service-connected conditions remain rated as they were prior to the grant of this increased rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disability had its onset in service and granted service connection for it.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities from July 29, 2011 to September 1, 2015. His combined rating of 80% meets the criteria for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment consistent with his education, training, and work experience.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding his right shoulder disorder, as well as an evaluation of whether his cervical spine condition aggravates his right shoulder disorder.