Shoulder Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as related to his service-connected chronic bronchitis and increased ratings for chronic bronchitis. The Board found that there was no probative evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected chronic bronchitis, and also determined that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an increased rating prior to January 29, 2008 or from January 29, 2008 to October 21, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's fatigue and joint pain/aches in areas other than shoulders and knees are related to his service in the Persian Gulf, constituting a qualifying chronic disability under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1117.

The Veteran's right shoulder and sinus disorders are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records from various VA facilities. The claims will also be evaluated based on the Gulf War exposure basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right ankle, left ankle, left knee, left shoulder, left hip and neck (cervical spine) disorders were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for an adequate examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left shoulder disability and residual scar, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the extent and severity of his right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining SSA disability records. The issues of increased ratings for bilateral shoulder disabilities and TDIU are also being considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder disorder is related to his active duty service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including keloid scars, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and MDD), a right shoulder disability, a left shoulder disability, and a cervical spine disability. The evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the claim regarding keloid scars, and there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for any of the other conditions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left shoulder disability, which he claims is related to his active service. The VA examiner found no current degenerative joint disease and opined that the Veteran's current disability was not related to service or the service-connected hiatal hernia residuals.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and assigned a 20% evaluation effective May 29, 2009. The Veteran requested an earlier effective date but was denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 8, 2007 for the grant of service connection for a right shoulder dislocation is being remanded due to inextricability with another claim involving CUE.

The Veteran's hypertension, residuals of a left shoulder injury, and chronic lung condition (claimed as bronchitis) are all granted. Service connection for DJD and DDD of the lumbar spine is also granted with an initial rating of 10%. The Veteran's arthritis of the right great toe and arthritis of the left great toe each receive an initial compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's continuous symptomatology since active service supports this claim. For his left shoulder disability, the evidence does not establish service connection as it is unclear whether the condition was present during service or if it is related to sarcoidosis.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left shoulder disorder characterized as left shoulder strain with rotator cuff insufficiency, finding that the Veteran's condition was not incurred or aggravated in active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder is related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hand and shoulder arthritis, a bilateral elbow disorder, and a lumbar spine disorder are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied, but the Board acknowledged that he had raised an informal claim for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and remanded the case to consider this issue.