Shoulder Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death from sudden cardiac arrest. The VA reviewer concluded that the Veteran's PTSD was not a primary cause of death, and other medical conditions were more likely contributing factors.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left shoulder and lumbar spine, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to military service. The Veteran's current disabilities have been rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings, an effective date assignment, and service connection for various conditions. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain outstanding treatment records from Waycross Orthopedics and to issue a Statement of the Case regarding the effective date claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The case is being remanded for the VA to obtain Social Security Administration records and then review the claim again. The Veteran will be given an opportunity to respond.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development and consideration of his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's shoulder disabilities have been rated at the maximum available rating of 20 percent for each shoulder. No higher ratings are warranted as there is no evidence of ankylosis, impairment of the humerus involving recurrent dislocation, malunion, fibrous union, false flail joint, or flail shoulder; or impairment of the scapula or clavicle.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disability was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, and instead related to his pre-existing familial spastic paraparesis.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability and left ear hearing loss, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service injuries.

The Veteran's left hip disorder and right shoulder disorder are found to be related to her military service.,Service connection is granted for a disability manifested by chest pain, as the evidence shows it had its onset during service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these disabilities to active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting any of the requested ratings or benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, chronic eye pain, and chronic bone and body pain (including shoulder, arm, and back pain) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Veteran did not provide credible evidence of exposure to herbicide agents such as Agent Orange during his time in Germany.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current left shoulder disability and his service-connected hiatal hernia residuals.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, left ulnar neuropathy, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for any of the conditions he claims, and therefore service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and headaches is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his disorders, as well as the need to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's substantive appeal was not timely filed, and the Board has dismissed the appeal due to this jurisdictional issue.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left shoulder disorder due to his withdrawal request. The claim for umbilical hernia is denied as there is no probative evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.