Shoulder Board decisions

Service connection granted for left shoulder degenerative joint disease.,Right ring finger disability not service connected. Right shoulder dislocation rating increased to 20% from September 19, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and arthritis of the left shoulder were denied, as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claim for an increased rating for the left shoulder scar was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including adenocarcinoma of the lung and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The decision also addressed issues related to fatigue, polycystic kidney disease, varicocele of the left testicle, epididymitis of the right testicle, and bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. No effective dates were assigned.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical degenerative joint disease with cervical radiculopathy did not develop within one year of discharge and was not related to service, including a fall on ice during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a hearing at the RO. The claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus, an initial compensable evaluation for hypertension, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for a left shoulder disorder are pending.

The Veteran's right elbow disability was rated at 10 percent prior to August 15, 2012, and increased to 20 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to August 15, 2012, and increased to 20 percent from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder and left knee disorders are causally related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for a left shoulder disorder and a left knee disorder.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses for services rendered at Lafollette Medical Center on May 12, 2013 is denied as the criteria under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725 are not met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The case will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder condition and sleep apnea are not related to his military service, resulting in a denial of both claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to conflicting evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back disability and a need for further examination. The issues of service connection for lower extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disabilities are also on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding his right arm nerve condition.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral foot and shoulder conditions, which prevent him from standing for long periods of time.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher initial ratings or a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder, left knee, and right ankle disabilities are service-connected as they were incurred during his active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's left upper extremity disabilities did not have onset during his active service, were not caused by his active service, and arthritis of his left upper extremity did not manifest within one year of separation from his active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further development of his claims. The Veteran is also seeking an increased rating for a right foot/ankle injury, which will be reviewed as part of this process.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing. The appeal is not yet resolved and will be returned to the AOJ after the hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and Social Security Administration records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and need for new VA examinations.