Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected IBS renders him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the claim for major depressive disorder is no longer in dispute. Service connection has been established for a spinal disability (S1 grade 1 spondylolisthesis with symptomatology that manifested within one year of separation from active duty). The Veteran's weight loss condition does not manifest during or as a result of active military service, and the claim for chest pain is reopened but denied. Evidence received since the September 1997 rating decision is both new and material and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder pain, bilateral knee pain, headaches, and sinusitis.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder disorders, as well as his migraine headaches and stomach disorder (Barrett's Esophagus with Gastritis and Esophagitis), are considered to be due to undiagnosed illnesses or other qualifying chronic disabilities related to service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.,The Veteran served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, which includes Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and airspace above these locations.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied the claims for bilateral heel spurs and a left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left shoulder disorders were aggravated during active service, warranting service connection. The respiratory disorder was not shown to be related to service or asbestos exposure. The right foot disorder did not manifest within one year of discharge and arthritis is not present. Fibromyalgia was not shown to have manifested in service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded as the VA has not obtained an opinion regarding his employability due to service-connected disabilities. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining this information.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his alcohol abuse disorder, which led to his fatal methanol ingestion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome is service-connected as it was incurred during a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in May 1995. The left shoulder condition, diagnosed as acromioclavicular joint degenerative osteoarthritis, is also considered service-connected based on direct evidence.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; a right shoulder disability; bilateral hearing loss; degenerative disc disease; and hypertension from appellate status.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current skin disability. The issues of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, right shoulder, left elbow, and left knee disabilities are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for subacromial impingement syndrome, left shoulder has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of entitlement to increased ratings for duodenitis and gastritis prior to September 21, 2011, and from September 21, 2011, as well as for pes planus with symptomatic plantar fasciitis in both feet are being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ankle disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The issue of service connection for a right shoulder disorder remains pending.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the reopening of a right shoulder disability claim.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was found to have originated in service and is granted. The low back, right leg (including the knee), right ankle, and right foot disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine if his service-connected conditions preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a heart disability at the time of his August 2009 claim and has not had one since. For the other conditions, the evidence does not support service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is caused by her service-connected cervical discectomy, and thus grants service connection for this condition as secondary to her service-connected cervical spine disability.