Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral flatfeet, jaw condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left wrist condition, and right wrist condition. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right shoulder disability may be related to service, but more evidence is needed for a final determination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for her right shoulder condition, which she contends is related to a motor vehicle accident during active duty, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected right wrist condition. The remand requires obtaining updated medical evidence and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability resulted in severe postoperative residuals and therapeutic immobilization of a major joint for more than a month, resulting in a temporary total rating. The cervical spine disability was granted at 20 percent from January 12, 2015, to January 2, 2019, with no further increase in rating sought.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities, as well as his eyesight disability (claimed as sleep disorder), are related to service. The VA examinations were inadequate and a new examination is needed for each issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his shoulder conditions and acquired psychiatric disorder. The VA is required to obtain a VA examination and opinion on these issues.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for referral to VA's Director of Compensation for consideration of whether a TDIU on an extraschedular basis under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) is warranted prior to January 12, 2015.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, neck disability, bilateral eye disability, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The claims were remanded for further development in one case.,Service connection was established for these conditions based on a finding that they are related to service due to exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 28, 2014, for service connection of his left shoulder DJD and initial disability ratings for his left elbow disabilities have been denied.,A TDIU has been granted effective from August 28, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability but has remanded the right shoulder disability claim due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should have been afforded VA examinations for his claimed right shoulder and right knee injuries due to service, but these were not provided. The case is being remanded to schedule these examinations.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for left shoulder impingement syndrome was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of bilateral foot and toenail fungus, right knee disability, left knee disability, left shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and back disability have been dismissed.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left and right shoulder disabilities due to increased symptoms since the last examination. The Veteran will be provided an opportunity for a supplemental statement of the case if his claims are not granted.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his right shoulder and knee conditions has been REMANDED due to the need for additional examinations. The issues of rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder osteoarthritis, recurrent dislocation, right knee chondromalacia patella, and left knee chondromalacia patella are still pending.

The Veteran's left shoulder and upper arm disability is rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right leg and ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, which also does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for his left shoulder scar was denied, and the Board found that there is no evidence of deep or nonlinear scars meeting the criteria for a compensable rating. The Veteran also received a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has not been manifested by motion limited to 45 degrees or less, ankylosis, malunion of the humerus with marked deformity, recurrent dislocation at the scapulohumeral joint, fibrous union, false flail joint, or flail shoulder. Therefore, a higher rating for his right shoulder disability is not warranted.