Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has found that the Veteran's claim for service connection on appeal encompasses entitlement to service connection on a secondary basis as set forth at 38 C.F.R. § 3.310. The RO will be directed below to conduct the initial adjudication of the claim for service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities have been reopened, but the claim for an increased rating for his lower back disability has been denied.,The Veteran's lower back disability is rated at 10 percent prior to June 13, 2011, and at 40 percent since that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate July 2010 VA examination, and the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability is now pending before the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic diarrhea and a right shoulder disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses are at least as likely as not related to his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left rotator cuff injury, finding that there was no evidence of such an injury in service or within one year after discharge. The Board also found that arthritis could not be presumed to have been incurred in service.,For his PTSD, the Board determined that while the disability is productive of social and occupational impairment, it does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed shoulder disorder and his bilateral shoulder pain is a manifestation of his cervical spine disorder. Service connection for a back disability was granted, but service connection for a neck and shoulder disability (secondary to the back disability) was denied.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, diagnosed as residuals of a left clavicle fracture with nonunion and degenerative joint disease, is found to be etiologically related to active duty service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left shoulder disorder, including degenerative joint disease of the AC joint, is not related to service and did not manifest within one year of separation from service. The VA examiner concluded that the current condition was less likely than not incurred in or caused by the claimed in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing and further appellate review.

The Veteran's current left shoulder disability, including status post rotator cuff repair and degenerative joint disease (DJD), is determined to be secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The Board grants this claim on the basis of credible evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran is seeking compensation for additional right shoulder disability due to VA medical treatment (physical therapy) in October 2008. The case has been remanded for further development and an examination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various foot, shoulder, and knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his in-service injuries or conditions.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, post-arthroscopy and decompression, has been rated at 10 percent since January 25, 2007. The current rating is for limitation of motion without additional functional loss due to pain or other factors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and left knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was caused by an accidental overdose of painkillers, unrelated to service or a service-connected disability. Therefore, his cause of death is not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims were granted, and he was awarded service connection for various conditions. The initial ratings assigned are generally in line with the severity of his disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome and hypertension, finding that the Veteran did not sustain a disease or injury related to these conditions in service. The Board also found that hypertension was not proximately caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology and severity of the Veteran's right shoulder and low back disabilities, as well as his cervical spine disability. The issues are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher rate of SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.