Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the veteran for an appropriate VA examination to assess his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employment.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully adjudicate the veteran's claims, including Social Security Administration records and recent VA outpatient clinic records. A VA orthopedic examination is also required.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and residuals of a right middle finger injury. However, it was determined that there is no evidence to support these conditions as being related to service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of the case as he is no longer alive.

The veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted, with the exception of conjunctivitis. The left elbow disability is found to be related to service and rated at 20 percent. Other conditions are also found to be related to service.

The veteran's right shoulder disorder was granted a 20 percent rating, while the other issues remained at noncompensable ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic left shoulder strain, finding that it is related to military service. Service connection was not granted for an eye disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his right shoulder disorder and TDIU due to service-connected disability. The RO evaluated the condition as a major joint at the 50 percent rate under Diagnostic Code 5200, which is the maximum available evaluation for unfavorable ankylosis of scapulohumeral articulation.

The veteran's claims for reimbursement or payment of unauthorized physical therapy and psychotherapy treatments received outside VA medical care system were denied as the criteria for payment have not been met.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disorder, but denied the claims for initial ratings of 10 percent for a right wrist ganglion cyst and a non-compensable rating for a right shoulder lipoma.

The Board has ordered a VA medical opinion to address the relationship between the veteran's service-connected left shoulder disorder and his death, as well as any contribution of that condition to his death.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and arthritis, but found new and material evidence to reopen claims for residuals of injury to the right great toe and pancreatitis. The veteran's mixed connective tissue disease is not considered a skin condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under applicable VA regulations.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and a compensable rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current cervical spine condition, including headaches and numbness of the right arm, is service-connected. The remaining claims for asthma, TMJ syndrome, a right shoulder disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and left ankle or foot disabilities are remanded for further development.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The numbness of the right hand, as a residual of lipoma excision from the right shoulder, was not found to be related to active service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for clarification of his hearing preference and further development.

The veteran's appeal is to determine if the reduction of his right shoulder disorder evaluation from 40 percent to 20 percent was proper. The RO has not provided a VA examination since the surgery in April 2003, and this case is being remanded for that purpose.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye disability, right knee disability, cervical spine disability, and right arm and shoulder disability. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left shoulder disorders, but denied a higher rating for arthritis of the hands and knees. The veteran's current symptoms include pain in his hands and knees, as well as impingement syndrome in his shoulders.