Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals for reopening his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, and lumbosacral strain have been withdrawn. The claim for an increased rating for right shoulder osteoarthritis was denied as there is no evidence showing a higher rating is warranted based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability was denied as the current evaluation of 30 percent adequately reflects the limitation of motion and pain he experiences.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left shoulder injury with arthritis and neck pain, as well as headaches, are now pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated in service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for pension benefits is denied as he does not meet the criteria for permanent and total disability due to his nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee conditions and service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II have been withdrawn. The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and left shoulder disorder as being related to an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of outstanding medical records. The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected left shoulder fracture.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's current low back disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for various service-connected disabilities were denied. The claims for cervical spine, low back strain with arthritis, right shoulder, and left knee conditions have been evaluated under the appropriate diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of his psychiatric disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was reduced from a 30 percent rating to a 20 percent rating, but the Board found that this reduction was not properly made and restored the original 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus, or for an initial compensable rating for left shoulder osteoarthritis. His hearing loss was not related to military noise exposure, but his tinnitus is etiologically related to service. PTSD and chronic depression were not found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination for his right shoulder disability and issuance of a statement of the case (SOC) regarding service connection for a right upper extremity neurological disability.

The Board is reopening the claim for service connection for a low back disability due to new and material evidence, but remanding it for further development. The claims for left shoulder/upper back disability and additional left wrist disability are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and readjudication of his claim.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify the Veteran's duty status and obtain his complete STRs, as well as VA and private treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for low back and right shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's arthritis of the lumbar and cervical spine were not shown to be present during service or within one year thereafter, and any current diagnoses are not attributable to service.,The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder has no current diagnosis in the record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his current sinusitis and skin disabilities.