Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff disability is caused by his service-connected left shoulder arthritis, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including a new VA examination and medical opinion to determine the etiology of the claimed left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not warrant higher ratings based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and SSA records. The case will be readjudicated after the development.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, left elbow bursitis, and right elbow disability are all service-connected. The left shoulder bursitis and left elbow disability are not service-connected.

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and a low back disability. The Veteran's claims were not addressed regarding TDIU benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left arm, shoulder, and wrist disabilities are not related to his period of service, including a bite from a Black Widow spider during service in 1969. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found no evidence of current disabilities involving the Veteran's bilateral knees, left shoulder, left ankle, or back, including the lumbar and thoracic spine, that are due to any incident or event in active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including surgical anophthalmos, pigmented scars of the left hand, disfiguring pigmented scars of the face, and other conditions, render him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and experience as a postal carrier.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were all denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted, but the claim was not reopened due to lack of a nexus between the claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current level of his left shoulder disability.

The Board denied service connection for Lyme disease and a psychiatric disorder, including depression. The Veteran's claims were based on his contention that he contracted these conditions during active duty in Europe.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right shoulder and right knee disabilities were denied. For the period prior to December 8, 2009, he was granted a 10 percent evaluation for dislocation of the right shoulder post-operative. From December 8, 2009 forward, he was granted a 20 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, reopening of service connection claim, and TDIU were denied. The right shoulder rotator cuff disability was found to not warrant an increase in the assigned rating. The carpal tunnel syndrome claim was reopened but further development is needed before it can be adjudicated on its merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic left shoulder disability, finding no competent medical evidence linking his current condition to active service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development, including examinations and consideration of presumptive service connection for undiagnosed illnesses.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, right knee, left elbow disabilities and an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than dysthymic disorder with anxiety) to include PTSD and depression have been granted. The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the issues of carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist and irritable bowel syndrome to include as being due to chemical exposure prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are consistent with the current 20 percent evaluation.