Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability and granted service connection. The right shoulder disability was also granted, with all issues resolved in favor of the Veteran. Service connection is also granted for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, back disability, stomach disability, left shoulder disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability have been reopened. The evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a disability manifested by chest pain has also been reopened. The evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether this condition is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right shoulder disability related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is not related to service, and his right shoulder disability has been granted with an effective date of February 22, 2005.,Claims for the lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, and left ankle disabilities remain pending.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a right leg disorder, finding new and material evidence. The right shoulder disorder is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service.

The Veteran's joint pain and bilateral knee disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, including presumed exposure to toxic chemicals during his Gulf War service. The Veteran's sleep apnea disorder is found to be aggravated by a service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal on the claim for service connection for neuropathy of the right shoulder. The case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic left shoulder disability during the appeal period and thus, service connection for a left shoulder disability cannot be granted. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20% based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and therefore his claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected headaches and any claimed disabilities secondary to his in-service traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and clarify the etiology of any current condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to clarify whether his service-connected left knee disability caused or aggravated his claimed degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined and will be deferred until the service connection issue is resolved.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is not service-connected, but his bilateral pes planus was aggravated by active service. The Veteran has been granted an initial 10 percent rating for GERD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board found no injury or disease involving the neck during any qualifying period of service, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted in full, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and found new and material evidence. The appeal is granted in this regard.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 20 percent rating for his service-connected right shoulder rotator cuff tear with impingement syndrome was granted, effective June 20, 2012.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was rated at 50 percent from November 17, 2008 to January 18, 2010 and again from March 1, 2011. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed sleep apnea is causally related to his service-connected PTSD, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.