Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a comprehensive VA examination to determine the etiology of any current left shoulder disability and whether it is at least as likely as not caused or worsened by service-connected residuals of a crush injury to the left hand/fingers.

The Veteran's PTSD was not diagnosed in accordance with DSM-IV criteria, and the Board finds that he does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.,His acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD and an adjustment disorder with anxiety, including depression, is not related to service. The psychosis did not manifest itself within one year of service.,The Veteran's bilateral shoulder pain is caused by a strain and his arthritis in either shoulder did not manifest itself within one year of service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure procedural due process compliance and to obtain a complete record upon which to decide the claims. The Veteran needs to be rescheduled for VA examinations to determine whether he currently suffers from diagnosed disabilities, including left shoulder disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, lung disorder, and back disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the Nashville RO. The issues of service connection for various disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the functional limitations of his lumbar spine, right shoulder and right knee disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with the effective date set at September 30, 2002. The Veteran was awarded a 40 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability as of October 31, 2006. He also received TDIU benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a chronic disability of the left shoulder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right wrist disability or GERD, and his bilateral foot disability to include pes planus and hallux valgus is not service connected. The claims for impingement syndrome with arthritis of the left shoulder and right shoulder are also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the relationship between his service-connected disabilities and any diagnosed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right shoulder disabilities, including as secondary to his service-connected conditions. The case is being remanded to obtain relevant medical records and to schedule a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right shoulder, lumbar spine, and knee disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also addressed in a separate decision.

The Veteran's right knee disability is manifested by no more than slight instability, and her rheumatoid arthritis of multiple joints does not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on an extraschedular basis were denied.,Specifically, the Board found no evidence of marked interference with all forms of employment or unusual circumstances in relation to his left shoulder and wrist disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have any symptoms of residuals of an appendectomy during any period of active service and that his currently diagnosed low back disorder is not related to active service. The claims for psychiatric, shoulder, muscle spasms and joint pain, and migraine headaches were also addressed but are remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was evaluated as 10 percent disabling prior to May 9, 2008 and increased to 20 percent effective from May 9, 2008. The claim for an evaluation in excess of these ratings is denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine and bilateral shoulder disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine their etiology. The claim for an increased rating for service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee is also being remanded.

The Veteran's varicose veins of the left leg were found to have been incurred in service and are therefore granted service connection. The Board also finds that the Veteran has other service-connected disabilities for which increased evaluations are warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected orthopedic disabilities affect a single body system and combine to a 70 percent rating, preventing him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection and special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance/housebound status. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.