Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, and his right shoulder disability is rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various conditions, including a cervical spine disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, and sinusitis. The Board has determined that the current VA examination opinions are inadequate to determine whether these conditions are related to service or service-connected disabilities, and thus remanded the case for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and the RO must review this evidence before making a decision on the claims of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and left shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings for his right hip replacement and service connection for a left shoulder disability, as well as a claim for TDIU. The ROs have issued decisions on these issues but the Veteran has expressed disagreement with them. The case is being remanded to issue SOC's and schedule VA examinations.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is related to his in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective November 1, 2007. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO, as requested.

The Veteran's appeal of the claims for service connection for a left eye stye and right ankle strain has been withdrawn. The remaining service connection claims are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA medical examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed bilateral heel stress fractures and related disabilities.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left shoulder disability, possibly Hirayama disease, and an undiagnosed illness related to his service in the Persian Gulf War. The claim is being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion regarding the nature of the Veteran's symptoms and their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include major depressive disorder and multiple joint issues, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of June 1, 2008. The Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a TDIU effective from this date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the Veteran's failure to appear at previously scheduled hearings and his requests for a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from VA facilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability was denied, and the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety/dementia, and pain disorder) was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting either claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee, left knee, and left shoulder are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his left shoulder disability, service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development including verifying dates of service, obtaining outstanding service treatment records, and affording the Veteran VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity disabilities. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss was caused by service, including significant noise exposure during her military career.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection have been denied. The initial evaluations for the claimed conditions are not supported by the evidence of record.