Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The reduction of the evaluation for his right shoulder strain was not proper, but he is not entitled to a higher rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed disabilities did not manifest during service or within a year thereafter, and thus are not presumed to have been incurred therein. The preponderance of evidence is against finding any nexus between current diagnoses and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his inability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral chondromalacia patella, but denied service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The Board found no evidence of limitation of motion or pain to shoulder level, warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other factors. The claims for increased ratings for left and right ankle sprains and migraine headaches are also denied.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the left shoulder disability, effective from September 7, 2007. The thoracolumbar spine disability remains at 10 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right shoulder condition is not related to his active service, and thus denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to schedule a Travel Board hearing. The claims for service connection and rating issues remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected left shoulder disability and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for an SOC on issues of service connection and TDIU, as well as a rescheduling of his requested hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of such. The claims for service connection for bilateral knee and foot disabilities, bilateral shoulder disability, and erectile dysfunction are pending.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis and arthritis is denied as VA is precluded from granting such a request due to the finality of prior decisions.

The appeal is being remanded due to inadequate examination and the need for updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's left shoulder disability may be related to service, but a new examination is required.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent prior to July 2, 2013 and at 20 percent thereafter. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating for either period.,The VA examinations showed that the Veteran could lift his arm to shoulder level or above during flare-ups, which is consistent with the current 20% rating as of July 2, 2013.

The Veteran's right shoulder arthritis has been rated at 10 percent since the initial grant of service connection in February 2007. The claim for a higher rating is denied as her symptoms have primarily consisted of painful motion, pain while sleeping on her right side, and difficulty lifting items above her head.

The Veteran's bladder cancer is not service connected. The cause of death due to sepsis and bladder cancer was not attributed to his service-connected psychiatric disorder, schizophrenia, or right shoulder dislocation and acromioclavicular separation. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent prior to August 3, 2010, for a psychiatric disorder. DIC benefits were denied as the cause of death was not attributed to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disorder is granted service connection as secondary to his bilateral knee disability. His left shoulder disability remains at a 20% rating, and he is granted TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.