Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues of service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 that are pending before a different Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims of service connection for right shoulder disability, prostate disability, and hypertension. The Veteran's current right shoulder disability is considered incurred in or related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen and establish service connection for asthma, PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, right hand disability, left shoulder disability, and right foot disability. The remaining issues are pending further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding hearing requests and will schedule a videoconference hearing for the Veteran.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including arthritis and rotator cuff tendonitis, is currently rated at 20 percent effective June 8, 2013. The rating reflects the limitation of arm motion to 90 degrees in abduction.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities have been granted increased ratings to 40 percent for the right shoulder disability and 30 percent for the left shoulder disability, effective from the dates of their respective increases.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected chronic partial tear, rotator cuff, left shoulder is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Board has determined that further examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder and right knee disabilities, as well as whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disorders are denied as there is no current disability related to the in-service injuries and the claimed conditions have not been shown to be directly related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed left shoulder and upper arm, as well as his left hip, leg, and foot disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The medical evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD, as well as his claims for various other disabilities. The Board found that there was no legal merit to these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and opinion, requiring a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's substantive appeal for entitlement to service connection for death was not timely filed. The claim for an increased rating for right shoulder disability is granted, with a final evaluation of 20 percent. The claims for additional disabilities due to VA hospital care are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disability, obstructive sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, and hypertension. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right wrist DJD, carpal tunnel syndrome, and shoulder disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a supplemental VA examination and opinion regarding service connection for a right shoulder disability, taking into account in-service treatment records and the Veteran's assertions of symptoms since service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed bilateral shoulder disability and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance since April 4, 2006. The effective date for SMC based on this need is set at April 4, 2006.

The Board finds that the Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral leg, right knee, and bilateral shoulder disorders are not related to his active military service.,There is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for various service-connected conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting any of the requested increased evaluations.