Shoulder Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his right shoulder degenerative joint disease and lumbar strain with spondylosis, finding that the current assigned ratings were appropriate.

The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to his death. The claims for service connection for depression, arthritis, and right shoulder pain are dismissed as the Veteran died before a decision could be made on these issues. The appeal for an increased disability rating for hepatitis C is also dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service. The appeal for a higher initial rating for his left thumb disorder and TDIU is also denied.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was rated as 10 percent prior to January 30, 2013, and denied for a higher rating. Since January 30, 2013, the disability has not met the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left shoulder, back, and hypertension disabilities are not service-connected as there is no evidence of chronicity since service or a link between current disability and service.

The Board has restored the Veteran's right shoulder disability rating from 40 percent to 40 percent effective November 1, 2008.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and a higher rating for his service-connected right wrist disability. The case is REMANDED to issue an SOC on the latter issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and right shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is found to be etiologically related to a disease, injury, or event that occurred during service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection based on exposure to chemicals and/or environmental hazards in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death. The issues on appeal were whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen a claim of residuals of head trauma, and the entitlement to service connection for various disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right shoulder injury is being remanded due to missing VA treatment records and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic cough and assigned a 20 percent rating for the back disability. Other disabilities have been rated based on their specific criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability has rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, despite the fact that his combined rating does not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU. The Board finds that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the lumbar spine disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating prior to July 1, 2014, but was sufficient from that date onwards.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability did not cause or aggravate his stroke, dementia, and atrial fibrillation. The Board found no in-service event, injury, or disease that may have resulted in these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further proceedings due to a lack of medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claims. The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities allegedly caused by an incident in July 2007 at a VA facility.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hand and wrist disabilities were not incurred in service or due to his service-connected left shoulder disability. The claim for an initial rating for the left shoulder disability was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities, including degenerative changes, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The disabilities are considered to be unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure all relevant records are considered in the decision.