Shoulder Board decisions

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is related to his service. As such, service connection for a right shoulder disability is granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current lower back disability and thus, service connection for this condition is denied. The VA examinations are needed to determine appropriate evaluations for PTSD, left shoulder separation with bursitis, and mild anterolisthesis of the cervical segment of the spine.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left shoulder disability and a genitourinary disability. This includes obtaining updated VA treatment records, scheduling the Veteran for medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions, and then readjudicating the claims.

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

The Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with impingement syndrome and acromioclavicular degenerative joint disease is considered to be causally related to his military service, leading to a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities are not related to his active service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of chronicity or incurrence during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a video conference hearing in Washington D.C.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a VA examination due to the inadequacy of the March 2013 VA examination.

The Veteran's joint aches, osteoarthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine, degenerative changes of the right shoulder, and polyarthralgias were not incurred or aggravated in service. The Board found insufficient clinical, laboratory, or radiographic evidence to support these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing right shoulder disability clearly and unmistakably worsened during service, warranting service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left shoulder disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, as well as his sleep apnea. The claims are inextricably intertwined due to the potential impact on the outcome of the sleep apnea claim.

The Veteran's right shoulder surgery residuals were rated at 20 percent from April 13, 2011. His right shoulder scar was also rated at 20 percent effective as of April 13, 2011.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim, finding that her residential facility provides necessary custodial care and thus all unreimbursed fees paid to this facility are deductible medical expenses for the purpose of calculating her countable income towards nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 28, 2011. The Board granted TDIU benefits based on the evidence showing that his service-connected conditions rendered him unable to work.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple joint disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected dermatitis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and conducting medical opinions regarding his right knee, right shoulder, and neck conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new examination to assess the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left shoulder disability and idiopathic epilepsy have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ring finger, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee conditions have been denied.,Service connection was granted for a left wrist condition (rated as 10 percent disabling), GERD (rated as 10 percent disabling), lumbosacral strain (rated as 10 percent disabling), and left ear hearing loss (rated as 10 percent disabling).