Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran is found unable to obtain and maintain any form of substantially gainful employment due solely to the effects of his service-connected disabilities, specifically his right shoulder disability and psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for further development and consideration of the evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing at the RO due to the Veteran's request. The claim is also being remanded because new and material evidence must be considered to reopen the service connection claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right shoulder, cervical spine, dementia, tinnitus, or left knee disability that is service-connected. The evidence shows no current disabilities and there is insufficient credible evidence to link any of these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and the need to obtain additional treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left shoulder impingement syndrome, finding that there was no evidence showing compensable limitation of motion or other functional impairment warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for back disorder, right shoulder disorder, and PTSD. The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and readjudication due to inconsistencies in the service treatment records regarding which shoulder was injured, and the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for multiple undiagnosed illnesses affecting various joints and the right and left hands, knees, shoulders, and wrists.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on their occurrence during active duty in the Southwest Asia Theater of operations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination by a vocational specialist to assess his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities. The claim will also be referred to the Director of Compensation for consideration of an extra-schedular TDIU if he does not meet the scheduler criteria.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated at 30 percent since April 1, 2013. The most recent VA examination found abduction limited to no worse than 45 degrees, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 5200.

The Veteran's left shoulder trapezius strain is manifested by pain and limitation of motion, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service connection claims, including obtaining STRs and private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, residuals of a concussion, left shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, and cervical strain.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability due to new and material evidence. However, it denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea as there is no medical evidence showing that his sleep apnea was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current left shoulder disability, diagnosed as status post open biceps tenodesis and arthroscopic subacromial decompression with scar, is related to an injury sustained during active service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's cervical spine and left shoulder/arm disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions to determine if they are related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and the propriety of a reduction in his rating for degenerative changes of the right shoulder have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has ordered additional examination and review of records to determine if the Veteran's left shoulder condition is related to his military service, including consideration of an undiagnosed illness under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.