Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disability and whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder or cervical spine disabilities. The Veteran's claim remains pending.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals regarding the right shoulder disability from July 29, 2009, and posterior anal fissure.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left knee arthritis with limitation of motion is granted, while the claims for service connection and reopening are also granted.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, left knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right knee disorder. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder was not addressed as it is not related to the issues on appeal.,Service connection for epididymitis was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a shoulder condition, bilateral knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, and pes planus. The decision also addressed his claim for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for PTSD but did not reach this issue due to other pending issues.

The Veteran's right shoulder sling and ankle brace are causing wear on his clothing, but they are no longer needed due to the improvement in his condition. The Board grants an annual clothing allowance for this period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), rheumatoid arthritis of the shoulders, and erectile dysfunction were denied as secondary to his service-connected glaucoma.

The Board granted service connection for right brachial plexopathy as secondary to a service-connected right shoulder disability and granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the right shoulder disability from June 9, 2006. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's service-connected eczema dermatitis is currently rated at 10 percent, effective November 26, 2012. The appeal for a higher initial evaluation remains denied.

The Board previously granted an increased schedular rating of 20 percent for service-connected right shoulder dislocation prior to September 19, 2013. The Veteran appealed the decision to the Court, and the Court vacated only that portion of the October 2014, Board decision which denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder dislocation on an extraschedular basis. This case is now remanded by the Court to determine if referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 3.321(b)(1) is necessary based on the collective impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and development of his claims, including a higher rating for his right shoulder disability and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left shoulder disability, render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU for the entire period under consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral shin splints, bilateral shoulder disability, or low back disability. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including arthritis, is presumed to have been incurred during his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for Graves' disease is being addressed.

The Board found no evidence linking joint pain of the shoulders, knees, and back to service or any exposure to mustard gas or Agent Orange. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's right ankle fracture with residuals and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are service-connected as secondary to his service-connected shoulder disorder.,PTSD is granted, but due to a depressive disorder with anxiety features.

The Veteran's initial ratings for her service-connected conditions were granted and assigned. The rating of 30 percent was maintained for eczema, increased to 30 percent for left knee patella medial/median facet cartilage degeneration with subchondral cyst as of December 15, 2014, and in excess of 30 percent from that date. A compensable rating was granted for status post vocal cord surgery with supraglottis, but not for left shoulder subdeltoid bursitis with posterior-superior impingement, fracture of the fifth left toe, or excision of soft mass tissue and bone fragments from the right foot. The Veteran's nevus of Ito was assigned a 10 percent disability rating.

The appeal is being remanded to obtain and associate with the claims file the Veteran's complete service personnel records, as well as any ongoing treatment records. The VA will also provide the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the origins or etiology of all current psychiatric disorders, incontinence/chronic bladder disorder, left shoulder disability, left elbow disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and low back disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral shoulder bursitis is not related to his military service and thus denies service connection for this condition.