Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a left shoulder disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD is granted, and the Board finds that his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hand disability, residuals of left and right finger injuries, and diabetes mellitus, type II were denied. Service connection was granted for status post lacerated wound, left index finger.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is not service connected as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including adjudicating the veteran's new claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder and hip disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The T/R claim will be readjudicated based on all of the veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including VA examinations and readjudication of service connection claims. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also pending.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for corrective notice regarding new and material evidence, consistent with prior standards.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for his right shoulder and right hand/arm conditions, concluding that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is rated at 100 percent, and his right shoulder strain is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that a rating of 100 percent for PTSD is warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, low back disability, neck disability, weakness in legs, and laceration on the back. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these disabilities and active military service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was granted an increased rating from 10 to 20 percent, effective November 28, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss, a compensable rating for residuals of right cheekbone fracture, and service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date prior to June 13, 2003, as no claim was filed before this date. The Veteran's other claims were also denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for low back disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability due to new evidence. The claim for sleep disorder remains denied as no new material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on August 31, 2006 at St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo were not reimbursable due to lack of prior authorization and the fact that VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and the possibility of obtaining private medical records.

The Board found no sternal condition and chest pain or right shoulder disorder related to service. The Veteran's claim for reopening these claims was denied as new and material evidence was not provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that his claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination. The Veteran is also asked to provide additional information regarding his undiagnosed illness claim.