Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for nerve damage of the bilateral arms and shoulders. The case will be remanded for a comprehensive VA examination, review of all available records, and readjudication.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left shoulder disability, and right ankle disability, collectively preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran does not have any of the claimed disabilities, and there is no evidence that these conditions are related to his service.

The Board found that there was no evidence to support service connection for the claimed conditions, including left shoulder disability, back disability, neck disability, right hip disability, and disorders of the nose and/or sinuses. The Veteran's claims were denied as his disabilities did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a heart disorder, eye disorder, or right shoulder disorder that was incurred in or aggravated by service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable/increased evaluations for his service-connected disabilities have been granted, with effective dates ranging from July 7, 2006 to October 15, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and unresolved etiology issues.

The Board has assigned an effective date of May 13, 2011 for the awards of service connection for right shoulder strain and back strain. No earlier effective dates are warranted as no claim was filed within one year of the Veteran's discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and the need for additional medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete evidence and need for VA examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability, including mild degenerative joint disease, is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining post-service private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any left shoulder and/or cervical spine disabilities preexisted active service or were incurred therein. The examiner will also assess whether any current left shoulder and/or cervical spine disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral severe sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the lower extremities is secondary to his service-connected lumbar scoliosis with degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 and lateral listhesis at L3-L4.

The Veteran was found unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities, effective February 1, 2013.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression but denied all other claims due to lack of evidence linking the claimed conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple-joint arthritis and a nose disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are likely related to his military service.,Service connection is also granted for residuals of a broken nose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, bilateral shoulder disability, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and sinusitis as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to substantiate the Veteran's claims, including Social Security Administration records and private medical records. The Veteran must be provided with a statement of the case on all issues and given an opportunity to perfect his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and readjudicating the claims.