Shoulder Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for compression fractures of the thoracic spine and a pinched nerve in the left shoulder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for the former condition and denying both conditions as secondary to his second period of service under other than honorable conditions.

The Board found no current diagnosis of PTSD and denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, right shoulder disability, defective vision, and skin disability of the foot. The Veteran's only diagnosed condition is chronic alcohol dependence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a VA peripheral nerves examination and obtaining any outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, prior to his August 2007 surgery, met the criteria for a higher 10 percent rating. However, he already received a temporary 100 percent rating from August 21 to November 30, 2007 due to convalescence following that surgery.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, a right hip disability, and a bilateral knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination. The claims of service connection for back and neck/shoulder disabilities are pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic left shoulder disability due to further development and consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for right shoulder, left knee, and left ankle disabilities was denied. The Board found that the Veteran had a history of left ankle strain/sprain during his military service but no current diagnosis or continuity of symptomatology for right shoulder or left knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the current nature and etiology of any diagnosed right leg, right shoulder, right elbow, or bilateral knee disorders. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for left shoulder, low back, and neck disabilities. However, due to conflicting evidence regarding whether these conditions pre-existed the Reserve injuries or were aggravated by them, a full VA examination is needed to determine their etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder, hip, and rib fractures are not service-connected as they did not develop due to his period of active duty. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is not related to his service, as there was no evidence of aggravation during or as a result of active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the December 2010 VA medical examination report.,Additional evidence is needed, including treatment records from Maryview Hospital and OPM disability determinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with major depressive disorder, left shoulder disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, right and left knee disorders, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has resulted in a limitation of motion or function to the arm level, warranting a 20 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the relationship between any current left shoulder and left elbow disabilities and service. Additionally, his claim for a compensable rating for herpes simplex type I and II will be addressed in a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right arm and shoulder disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current symptoms and any incident during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder arthritis is service-connected, but his bilateral hand disability was not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability was granted, and he is currently assigned a 20% rating effective March 4, 2011.