Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to provide her with a Board video conference hearing on the issues of service connection for various conditions and increased ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a current VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD. The issue remains about entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's end-stage osteoarthritis of the right shoulder, which resulted from VA treatment for a right shoulder hemiarthroplasty with acromioplasty on August 24, 2007, is considered additional disability and meets the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for his right shoulder disability, 10 percent for his bilateral foot disability (diagnosed as plantar fasciitis), and 30 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder prior to October 16, 2012.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and hypertension, and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. Further development is needed to determine if his current disabilities are related to service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's service-connected left forearm scar is not compensable.,There is no evidence of a chronic left shoulder strain/arthropathy that was incurred in service.,Inguinal hernias were not shown in service or for many years following discharge from service, and are not otherwise related to service.,The Veteran does not have a diagnosis of infectious hepatitis A.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's post-operative unstable left shoulder is related to his in-service left shoulder dislocations and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is not less than 70%, meeting the schedular criteria for a TDIU. However, the evidence does not demonstrate that he is or has been precluded from all forms of employment due solely to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing. The appeal is not yet decided on its merits.

The claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, shoulder disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, loss of balance and vertigo, chest pain, heart dysrhythmia, and blood clots and phlebitis were denied. The claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability was also denied.

The Veteran does not have any additional disabilities as a result of the March 2006 VA medical treatment, and there is no evidence that such treatment was caused by carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill on the part of VA.

The Veteran's left shoulder strain is rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating for limitation of motion. The claim for a TDIU was denied as his service-connected disability does not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder tendonitis, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. The claim for hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria. The claim for vitiligo was denied as the pre-existing condition did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left shoulder disabilities are rated at 10 percent each since the initial rating period.,Service connection for deviated nasal septum and sinusitis is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for various conditions are pending.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder condition, effective September 20, 2011. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his Social Security Administration records and VA Vocational Rehabilitation folder. He also needs a new medical opinion regarding the nature of his neurological head pain and right upper extremity disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his left knee, left arm, and/or left shoulder disabilities are directly related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of mild osteoarthritis is related to his in-service injury. Service connection for PTSD was not addressed due to a procedural issue.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left shoulder arthritis is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim.