Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for sickle cell anemia, a left shoulder disability, a low back disability, and a skin disorder. The conditions are found to be secondary to the Veteran's preexisting sickle cell disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral shoulder disability, leg cramps, and lumbar degenerative spondylosis. The decision found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed right shoulder disability. The examiner is asked to address whether the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is related to service or his service-connected right elbow disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have consistently precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since February 2000, with the exception of a brief period in June 2010 to May 2012 when he was employed.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of current disabilities manifested by numbness in the left hand and fingers, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, or a disability manifested by numbness in the left leg. The Veteran's complaints were not supported by clinical findings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection for PTSD, stomach disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hand disability, bilateral wrist disability, bilateral ankle disability, left knee disability, traumatic head/brain injury, right shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, or left inguinal hernia, status-post surgical repair is denied.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, effective July 10, 2011. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied as the evidence did not show a prior claim filed within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder and heart conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, including VA treatment records and private treatment records. The Veteran may also be provided with a secondary service connection claim for his shoulder condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle and left shoulder disabilities are not related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus, and thus cannot be granted on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's increased disability rating for tendonitis of the left shoulder was granted, with an effective date of April 30, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder as due to an undiagnosed illness, but the issue of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's left shoulder degenerative arthritis with impingement syndrome is currently rated at 30 percent since October 23, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and to clarify the relationship between his current shoulder disability and service.

The Veteran's claims were improperly reduced in 1979, and the Board has restored his original disability ratings of 40% for residuals of right shoulder gunshot wound and 40% for diminished sensation of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 27, 2001, for the grant of service connection for anxiety with PTSD has been granted.

The Board denied service connection for low back and left shoulder disorders, finding no evidence of chronic conditions in service or continuity of symptoms. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim was also denied as there is no clear evidence that the current condition is related to service.