Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities are not service-connected, as they did not manifest within one year of his separation from active duty or during a period of training duty. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were caused by or aggravated by any service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, erectile dysfunction, and residuals of an injury to the ribs are at least as likely as not related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to her military service and thus denied all of her claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an effective date prior to January 24, 2005 for the grant of service connection for a right shoulder disability and his claims of service connection for headaches and a cervical spine disorder. The Board found that the Veteran did not submit a claim before January 24, 2005, which is when he filed his petition to reopen his previously denied claim. The Board also determined that there was no evidence linking the current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for major depressive disorder was reopened and granted, with the disability found to be related to his service-connected low back disability.,Service connection for a right shoulder disability was denied as there is no evidence linking it to active duty service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for a left shoulder disorder, diagnosed as impingement syndrome and degenerative joint disease. However, the right shoulder, right knee, and bilateral elbow disorders were not found to be related to service.,The arthralgias and myalgias (consisting of ankle pain) were determined not to be due to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral shoulder, left hip, and left ankle disabilities are not related to service. The evidence does not show any in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative changes of the cervical spine are related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition. The issues of right shoulder disorder and left shoulder disorder, both secondary to the cervical spine disability, will be addressed separately.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation as of January 3, 2007. Effective date of January 3, 2007 is granted for the establishment of TDIU benefits and Chapter 35 benefits.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a rash on his abdomen, shoulders, and neck. The Board has determined that further development of the record is needed to determine if this condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying his reserve service.

The Board found that the Veteran's conditions, including residuals of a right shoulder injury, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and low back disorder, are related to his active service. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral shoulder arthritis and fibromyalgia was granted, with a rating of 70 percent effective from May 1, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, right shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disorder. The remaining issues of spine, shoulder, knee, and hemorrhoids disorders will be addressed through further examination and analysis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain service treatment records and verify the Veteran's periods of active duty, as well as to provide a VA examination for sleep apnea and hypertension. The appeal will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran timely perfected his appeal of the RO's August 2007 denial of entitlement to service connection for right and left shoulder disorders. Further adjudicatory action is needed prior to considering the merits of the service connection issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and neck disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on three separate issues have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The case is being remanded for additional development to address the Veteran's shoulder disabilities, specifically regarding functional loss and pain.