Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination by an orthopedic specialist to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder, left shoulder, and cervical spine disorders.

The Veteran's hammertoe of the right second toe is related to service.,The Veteran's shoulder and knee disabilities are not related to service or any service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claimed bladder or bowel dysfunction is not related to his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including a torn rotator cuff and DJD, did not manifest within one year of service and is not causally related to his in-service injury. As such, service connection for this condition was denied.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, and he is currently assigned a 20 percent rating for his right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left shoulder and spine conditions has been withdrawn. The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and PTSD, finding that the current psychiatric disorders are causally related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in an impairment of his ability to retain employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests. The evidence shows that a MBA degree is necessary for the Veteran to remain employed at his current position.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not permit vocational rehabilitation training or lead to successful employment, and the necessary steps towards receiving Chapter 31 vocational rehabilitation benefits have not been taken.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left clavicle/shoulder disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected conditions are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his left shoulder disability and cubital syndrome were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of the currently assigned evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an addendum opinion regarding his left shoulder condition and a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No decisions were made on the merits of any claims.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure that all relevant evidence has been considered in connection with the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's right shoulder tendonitis and left shoulder bursitis have been granted service connection, with each condition rated at a 10% disability rating.

The Veteran's right shoulder surgery on May 7, 2008 resulted in post-operative diagnoses of impingement syndrome and degenerative joint disease. The Board finds that the criteria for a temporary total rating based on need for convalescence do not meet as the effective date for service connection was June 9, 2008, which predates the surgery.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for CVA and hypertension, as well as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD. The claim to reopen the issue of service connection for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD and right shoulder rotator cuff tendinitis with impingement and degenerative joint disease, as well as entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a right shoulder injury is granted, with no specific rating assigned and no effective date provided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete development and potential consideration of undiagnosed illness or multi-symptom illnesses.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, right shoulder impingement syndrome, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right deltoid scar) render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.