Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected back and left shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of left shoulder injury, partial rotator cuff tear have been manifested by limitation of motion to approximately 25 degrees from side. The disability does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability was not caused or aggravated by service or his service-connected left wrist ganglion cyst, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous medical opinion regarding secondary service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder and low back disorders. The case will be returned to the RO for further review after obtaining an updated medical opinion.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet criteria for service connection for PTSD, and his claimed low back disorder is best characterized as primary insomnia. The Veteran's other claims of service connection were denied due to lack of a diagnosed condition within one year post-service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee chondromalacia, right shoulder rotator cuff syndrome, and respiratory disorder are related to her military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 10 percent from June 3, 1998, to August 15, 2007, and at 20 percent as of August 16, 2007.,VA denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability, specifically diagnosed as adhesive capsulitis, was not incurred in service or is otherwise casually related to active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pulmonary edema, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and other disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 18, 1998 for the award of TDIU and found that DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are warranted due to the Veteran's unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for further examination of the Veteran's left shoulder. The claim will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board denied a compensable rating for right eyebrow scars and found no current left knee disability. The claim for service connection for blurred vision in the right eye was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection was denied for left knee disability, right eye blurred vision (previously denied), skin rash on arms, shoulders, back, and legs, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and a left eye pterygium.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various disabilities including a respiratory disability, sinusitis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, lumbar radiculopathy, postoperative residuals of a cervical spine injury, left arm and shoulder disability, an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), and bilateral pes planus. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for sinusitis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine on a secondary basis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for lumbar radiculopathy on a secondary basis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for postoperative residuals of a cervical spine injury, status post fusion on a secondary basis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for left arm and shoulder disability on a secondary basis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD). The claims are being remanded to allow for further development of the claim, including consideration of PTSD under Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1 (2009).,The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral pes planus based on a presumption of soundness due to the absence of pes planus at entrance into service and exposure to asbestos and tear gas during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, with the exception of a 20 percent rating being granted for residuals of left shoulder sprain effective January 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including low back disability, right lower extremity disability (claimed as pain and numbness), left hip disability, right hip disability, right shoulder disability, tinnitus, and left hand disability, were all granted. The decision is based on direct service connection due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at 30 percent effective May 19, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating for GERD.

The Board has determined that additional medical evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's right shoulder disorder is related to his military service, including any Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) or Inactive Duty for Training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for her service-connected right shoulder and left knee disabilities were denied by the RO. The Board finds that additional development is needed to properly address these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the eligibility requirements for a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaption grant due to his unsteady balance and coordination issues, which are not severe enough to qualify him under VA regulations.