Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with major depression, which constitutes a complete grant of the Veteran's psychiatric disability claim. As such, no discussion of VA's duty to notify or assist is necessary.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Drs. RSL and SP.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied. The right shoulder and right middle finger disabilities are currently rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability and secondary service connection for a back disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of other factors such as employment records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a TDIU prior to June 2, 2006 was denied as the preponderance of evidence showed he was not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue regarding whether the January 28, 2004 RO decision should be revised or reversed on CUE is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for bipolar disorder, right foot disorder, and right shoulder disorder as secondary to a service-connected low back disability. The Veteran's claims were not granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee and shoulder disabilities were granted, but the assigned ratings of 10 percent for left knee disability, zero percent for right knee sprain, and zero percent for bilateral shoulder sprain are found to be appropriate based on the current evidence.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hip, back, shoulder, and arm disabilities. The Board has remanded the case for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for status post staph infection of left shoulder surgery from January 26, 2004 to March 1, 2004 was denied. The Board found that the disability at issue prior to March 2, 2004 did not include any orthopedic impairment and only encompassed a tender or painful scar.

The Board has remanded the case for additional procedural action and to obtain a VA examination for the sleep disorder issue. The bilateral shoulder disability claim is still pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability had its onset during active service and granted service connection for this condition. The pre-existing bilateral eye disability was found not to have been aggravated by service, thus denying service connection for this issue.

The Veteran's arthritis of the lumbar spine, shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, and feet was not manifested in service or within one year postservice. The Board finds no evidence to support a nexus between his service-connected diabetes mellitus and his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not present an unusual disability picture that renders application of the regular rating schedule provisions impracticable. The Board found no basis for referral for consideration of an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's claim for initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, with a rating of 10 percent. The claims for reopening service connection for postoperative degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left shoulder disorder have also been granted. Service connection for vertigo is denied. The right hip arthritis claim remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision. The right knee arthritis and right ankle disorders are both rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA examination reports.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining service treatment records and arranging for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current chronic right shoulder disability and denied her claim for service connection. The issue of entitlement to service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.