Shoulder decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right shoulder bursitis and skin condition due to insufficient medical evidence, including a need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected rhinitis, right shoulder disorder, and back disorder. The issues on appeal include entitlement to initial compensable ratings for rhinitis and headaches, as well as service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a back disorder.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for residuals of a right shoulder muscle injury, which occurred during active duty training in August 1988.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, left knee, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities based on evidence linking these conditions to an in-service automobile accident.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient reasoning and failure to provide a VA medical examination for clarification of the relationship between the Veteran's service injury and his current knee and shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the residuals of a fragment wound of the right shoulder with retained foreign bodies, Muscle Group I, and loss of function of the right shoulder, Muscle Group V, are not productive of more than moderate disability. The left shoulder osteoarthritis is also not productive of more than 10 percent disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a heart disability as secondary to PTSD and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for PTSD, including manifestations of a heart condition.

The Veteran's posterior labral tear of the right shoulder with bursitis resulted in painful motion but did not result in functional limitation to shoulder level or closer. The disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, characterized by recurrent dislocation and degenerative joint disease, does not warrant a rating higher than the current 30 percent assigned under Diagnostic Code 5202.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder rotator cuff tears are being remanded due to incomplete records. The VA will attempt to verify the dates of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA periods during which the injuries occurred.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His lumbar spine condition was rated at 10 percent, his knee conditions were not compensable, his shoulder bursitis did not meet criteria for a higher rating, his wrist fracture had no compensable disability rating, his foot hallux valgus conditions were not compensable, and he did not receive service connection for a left hip condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left shoulder disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected shoulder and knee disabilities are being remanded to the RO for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected post-operative right shoulder impingement syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not eligible for continued REAP benefits due to his status as an inactive member of the National Guard, and did not re-affiliate within 12 months. The claim must be denied based on a lack of entitlement under the law.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the extent and etiology of any current right shoulder disability, as it relates to service. The Veteran's active duty for training (ACDUTRA) included periods from November 1965 to May 1966, with additional ACDUTRA over the subsequent five years.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing left shoulder condition was not aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of a neck disability or a left shoulder disability. The right shoulder arthritis is currently diagnosed, but it is not service-connected as there is no evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left shoulder disability has been granted, with a rating of 30 percent effective October 4, 2008. An earlier effective date prior to this rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine if his right hand and arm neurological problems are related to his service-connected right shoulder disability.