Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's increased rating claims for his left knee disability and right wrist injury were denied. The Veteran was granted a temporary total rating for the left knee disability from February 3, 2006 to March 31, 2007, with a subsequent 30 percent evaluation effective April 1, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant Social Security Administration records.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left shoulder disorder. The right ankle disorder is granted as incurred in active military service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, right shoulder pain and right scapula condition, chest pain, bronchitis, influenza with headaches, low back disability, esophoria, nosebleed, and residuals of a foreign object in the eye. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder is related to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, will be remanded due to a lack of an examination addressing the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and his current sleep apnea.

The Veteran's PTSD and right shoulder strain with instability prior to December 1, 2006 are both rated at the maximum allowable under current rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Travel Board hearing and issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a currently diagnosed left shoulder disability and his right shoulder rotator cuff tear is not service-connected. The claim for an initial compensable rating for residuals of post-surgical repair of the right shoulder rotator cuff tear was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not shown to be productive of a disability picture that precludes him from securing and following some form of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to be incurred in service, resolving all doubts in his favor.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a right ankle disability, and a bilateral shoulder disability was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have these conditions due to his service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service records, including those from his reserve and active duty service. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disorder is more likely than not related to his in-service findings of right shoulder impairment, and therefore grants service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acromioclavicular degenerative joint disease, left shoulder is being remanded due to the need for a VA medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and assigned a 100% evaluation, effective from the date of the decision. The issue regarding an increased evaluation for left shoulder impingement syndrome is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right chest pain was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability manifested by this condition during or since her military service. The claims for initial compensable ratings for left shoulder sprain, right shoulder sprain, and right hand sprain are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and right shoulder disability are not service-connected. The claim for PTSD is pending as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition.

The Board has remanded the case for a hearing and further development, including clarification of representation and compliance with notice and assistance requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, and the Board has granted an increased rating to 30 percent effective July 11, 2005.