Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain the Veteran's VA employee treatment records from 1983-1984. The case is now remanded for further action.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent prior to February 26, 2014 and increased to 20 percent effective February 26, 2014.,Since March 13, 2015, the Veteran's right shoulder disability has been rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to provide proper notice for a scheduled hearing. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied the claim on the merits. The evidence does not establish a causal relationship between the current diagnosis and active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are inextricably intertwined with his neck disability claim, and thus must be remanded. The VA examinations and opinions need to address whether the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, depression, and left upper extremity radiculopathy are secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, right shoulder, bilateral elbow, and bilateral knee conditions were not related to service or manifest within one year of separation. Therefore, service connection was denied for all issues.

The Veteran is granted an annual clothing allowance for the 2012 calendar year due to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with limited motion, which resulted in a rigid back brace issued by VA.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was initially rated at 10 percent from September 1, 1994 to April 17, 2012. The rating was increased to 20 percent effective March 22, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA and OPM records, and scheduling a VA examination for the right shoulder disorder.

The Veteran does not have a back disability, to include a left lower extremity nerve disability, a neck disability, a knee disability, a shoulder disability, an ankle disability, or a hip disability, that is related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal requires additional development and remand for several issues, including scheduling a videoconference hearing for tinnitus, obtaining clarification on the etiology of his right shoulder and lumbar spine disorders, and considering whether he is entitled to TDIU.

The Veteran is granted service connection for the claimed disabilities due to exposure to test agents used during Project SHAD, effective November 25, 2002. However, he is not entitled to an earlier effective date as his claim remained pending until the grant of service connection in August 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability is not related to his service-connected knee and foot conditions, thus denying service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of outstanding SSA records.

The Board has remanded the case due to an unadjudicated claim of service connection for a right shoulder labrum injury. The Veteran's appeal for a temporary total rating based on convalescence following surgery in September 2012 is also pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been granted. The initial compensable rating for right shoulder bursitis prior to January 29, 2013 has also been granted.

The case is being remanded for further development to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities and to obtain any outstanding records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disability and bilateral shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were present during service and are related to his military service.

The Veteran's permanent and total service-connected disability, including his left lower extremity disabilities and heart condition, effectively precludes him from locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. He is therefore entitled to specially adapted housing benefits.