Shoulder decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis warrants a restoration of his original 20% rating, as there is no evidence to suggest an improvement in his condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and the provision of any necessary medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a hysterectomy, low back disability, and right shoulder injury due to lack of competent credible evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral shoulder disorder, including arthritis and rotator cuff arthropathy, did not manifest during or within one year of service and is not otherwise related to his military service. Therefore, service connection was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and residuals of tuberculosis exposure. The decision also addressed other issues such as bilateral shoulder and knee disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome, sacroiliac disorder, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for further evaluation of the Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an extension of his temporary total rating and a higher rating for tendonitis of the left shoulder, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for these determinations.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic tendonitis of the left shoulder and residuals of right ankle osteochondritis dissecans, finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board denied service connection for nerve damage of the left arm and shoulder in a June 1984 decision. The Veteran submitted new evidence, but it was either cumulative or redundant of previous evidence, did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim, and did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with mechanical low back strain is not manifested by incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months, lower extremity neurological impairment, or unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.,For the period from September 18, 2006 to October 25, 2009, the Veteran was in receipt of the maximum schedular evaluation for his service-connected right shoulder degenerative joint disease and was not shown to present an exceptional or unusual disability picture as to render impractical the application of the regular schedular standards.,For the period from October 26, 2009, the preponderance of the probative evidence shows that the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder degenerative joint disease was productive of no more than, at best, right arm limitation of motion midway between the side and shoulder level.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left arm, cervical (neck), and left shoulder disorders. The lumbar spine disorder was previously granted in a prior rating decision.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for loss of memory, left ankle sprain and left calcaneal spur, and left shoulder impingement syndrome. The VA found that there was no evidence to support these conditions as being due to an undiagnosed illness or a bone condition.,There is no indication in the decision summary that any service connection for the appellant's claimed disabilities was granted.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by chronic pain and mild arthritis, does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability as being aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability. The Veteran is also awarded a 20% rating for his degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder with dislocations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to address the DeLuca factors and assess functional impairment due to pain.

The Board has determined that the effective date for a 20% rating for left shoulder tendonitis should be February 27, 2002.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right shoulder was denied as his disability did not warrant an increase in rating beyond 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is being remanded due to incomplete information from VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further action due to a need for an examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is related to service. The Veteran contends that he sustained an injury during service in 1970, which resulted in ongoing pain and disability.

The Veteran's right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities are not service-connected. However, his cervical spine disability is granted with a rating of 40 percent.