Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been restored, and the TDIU claim is denied as there is no evidence showing that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board dismissed the right shoulder condition claim due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The PTSD claim was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an automobile allowance and specially adapted equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are related to his active duty service, while his left shoulder and low back disabilities are not. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hand and arm disability in addition to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right MCP joints and wrist was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional service records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and back conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, residuals of right foot cold injury, and residuals of left foot cold injury have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and clarifying whether the Veteran is requesting increased ratings or effective date changes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and is related to noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, knee disability, shoulder disability, elbow disability, wrist disability, hand disability, and hip disability are granted as they are considered direct service connections due to cold injury exposure.

The Veteran seeks TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic lumbosacral strain, but denied service connection for bilateral knee and left shoulder conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and providing an opinion regarding the Veteran's employability given his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the shoulder and neck due to new evidence provided since the last denial. The issue is now remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder and knee disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a clarification of whether his conditions are related to his in-service duties as a multichannel transmission systems operator/maintainer.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues, including service connection for various conditions and a TDIU. The Board has determined that further development is needed to obtain SSA records, service personnel records, and VA examinations for the ear disability, head trauma, and human bite claims. Additionally, a VA examination is required to address the left shoulder disorder and cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's left shoulder condition has been rated at 10 percent for the entire initial rating period, as it does not meet criteria for a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion or involvement of multiple joints.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder, foot disorder (claimed as residual of cold injury), right ring finger disorder, and psychiatric disorder are not service-connected due to willful misconduct in the case of the left shoulder disorder.

The Board found that there was no evidence of fault on VA's part in the provision of care, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his right shoulder disability. The appeal will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are currently rated at a combined evaluation of 90 percent, and the case is being remanded for further development to determine if they preclude his participation in all forms of substantially gainful employment.