Shoulder decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected bilateral shoulder disabilities result in the need for regular aid and attendance, which is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, and cardiac disorder. The claim of entitlement to a higher initial rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine at L4-5 and L5-S1 was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right hand and right shoulder disabilities, including pain with mild ulnar neuropathy at the elbow and chronic tendonitis of the right shoulder, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a left shoulder disability was denied as there is no evidence of fibrous union, non-union, or loss of head of the humerus warranting a higher rating. The current 30 percent disability rating remains in effect.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder, low back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and skin disorder of the feet have been denied. The evidence does not support current diagnoses or show in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right shoulder disability, which may affect muscle groups I, II, III, and IV. The examiner should classify the injury as slight, moderate, moderately severe, or severe based on the criteria provided in 38 C.F.R. § 4.73.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected gunshot wound of the right (major) shoulder with residual traumatic arthritis and loss of motion, currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling. The case is to be readjudicated based on whether he is entitled to separate compensable ratings for entrance and exit wound scars from his gunshot wound injury and each muscle group affected by his gunshot wound injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new examinations and obtaining outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for a higher initial rating for his left shoulder disability and service connection for his bilateral knee disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of his claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The issues include rating increases for various disabilities and reopening a previously denied claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his bilateral shoulder conditions.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a bilateral shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA medical records and to schedule him for appropriate examinations to determine the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of any current left ear hearing loss, left shoulder disorder, right ankle sprain, or eye disorder. The AOJ will then review the claims file to ensure that all development has been completed.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as his low back disability, have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal at the Board hearing.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling of VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, left knee disorder, neck disorder, and right shoulder disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder, psychiatric disorder (including depression and intermittent explosive disorder), right shoulder disorder (including right subscapularis myalgia), memory loss, fatigue, headaches, numbness of the hands and arms, upper gastrointestinal disorders, lower gastrointestinal disorders, hair loss, and unexplained chronic multi-system illness. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded to the RO.

The Veteran's increased evaluation claim for his right shoulder disability was denied. The Board found that the arthritis of the right knee did not have a service connection and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his claimed conditions, and the pre-existing left ear hearing loss did not increase in severity during service.