Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have an additional right shoulder disability as a result of physical therapy at VA in October 2008, and therefore denied his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's shoulder disabilities and attempting to obtain any workman's compensation records related to his shoulders.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection on all of his listed conditions was denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations and insufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic right shoulder strain, chronic right knee strain and degenerative joint disease, chronic bilateral hip strain, and chronic lumbar spine strain with right L5 radiculitis strain on a secondary basis to his service-connected left foot disability.

The Board found that the Veteran did not timely file a notice of disagreement with the October 2002 rating decision, and thus the appeal is dismissed. The issues of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and left shoulder disability are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted with an effective date of February 17, 2007, but no earlier. The decision is based on the evidence showing that he had more than marginal employment until February 16, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder tendonitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, cognitive and memory deficits, and muscle and joint pain are not related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The issue of service connection for a bilateral knee disability is being REMANDED.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed shoulder, hip and low back disorders are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection for various conditions, including a low back disorder. The Veteran's claims are currently under review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current chronic bilateral shoulder disability, right ankle disability, or cervical spine disability related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against his claims for these disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities have been rated based on their service-connected nature. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either shoulder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and addendum medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, fibromyalgia, chronic right shoulder strain, chronic left shoulder strain, and right upper extremity neuritis, all effective September 1, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability, including strain, degenerative joint disease, and rotator cuff tear, is a continuation of injuries sustained during service. As such, the appeal for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and higher ratings for his right shoulder disability, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that the earliest possible effective date was February 25, 2003, and denying entitlement to staged ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a videoconference hearing, and no action is required on the service connection issue.