Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records.

The Board has denied service connection for various scarring conditions and knee, hip, ankle, and leg disorders due to the absence of a current disability. The Veteran's claims are remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss for VA purposes.,The right ear condition, hypoglycemia, and earlier effective date for hypertension claims have been withdrawn by the appellant (or his authorized representative).,The right arm/wrist condition was granted by a previous rating decision. The appeal for this issue is dismissed as moot.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hypertension has been remanded due to lack of VA examination.,The claims for service connection for right knee disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, skin condition (claimed as dermatitis and/or eczema), left hip condition, right shoulder condition, and right hip condition are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of epididymitis and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The remaining issues are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and shoulder conditions due to insufficient development of evidence, including inadequate opinions from VA examiners. The issues are currently pending further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as incomplete or inadequate examination reports. The issues include service connection for various upper extremity neurological disorders, a right shoulder disorder, a lumbar spine disorder, breast reduction, and a cervical disorder (claimed as cancerous tissue).

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection. The Board finds that no earlier effective date can be granted as the increase in disability is not factually ascertainable within one year prior to the claim.,The Veteran also seeks earlier effective dates for service connection of tinnitus, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome. The claims were previously denied but reopened on new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and dismissed his appeal for entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypertension, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right and left tennis elbow, left shoulder arthritis, left hand neuropathy, right leg neuropathy, and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome has been granted. The PACT Act expanded the presumptive exposure for hypertension to include veterans who were exposed to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was granted a 40% rating beginning August 1, 2012. A higher rating in excess of 40% is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a middle back disorder has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim during a Board hearing.,The Veteran's appeals for separate disability ratings and service connections for various upper extremity disorders have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of hernia repair surgery is granted. The claims for increased ratings for right shoulder strain and lumbar strain are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination and addressing whether TDIU is reasonably raised by the record.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected right shoulder disability is remanded due to insufficient compliance with prior remand instructions and the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, and left shoulder degenerative joint disease based on exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Thailand. The decision is based on the presumption of exposure due to service in Vietnam-era Thailand.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right shoulder strains are etiologically related to his service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, PTSD with alcohol and substance abuse, and left shoulder pain due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is currently incarcerated and VA examinations have not been conducted.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development to obtain retrospective medical opinions and adjudicate additional issues.