Shoulder decisions — 2010

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is presumed to have been incurred in service. The other claims of service connection are not addressed as they are remanded.

The Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus was found to have been aggravated by service, and he is now granted service connection for this condition. The Board also finds that his thoracolumbar spine disorder may be related to service.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's left shoulder rotator cuff tear to her military service and denied her claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for new and material evidence for service connection for a low back disorder, service connection for a left shoulder disorder, entitlement to a temporary total disability evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 for surgery of the left shoulder, entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder, and entitlement to a compensable evaluation for internal derangement of the right knee.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder complaints in service were acute and transitory, and his current right shoulder disorder is not etiologically related to active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities were not caused by VA medical treatment, specifically the administration of Felodipine. The evidence did not support a finding that the medication caused or aggravated his existing conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a current right shoulder disorder and denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed right shoulder condition. The claim for 1151 benefits related to erectile dysfunction resulting from a vasectomy is pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were granted, with the exception of allergic rhinitis. The Veteran was awarded a 10 percent disability rating for low back strain with hip strain, a 40 percent rating for polycystic ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids, and an initial compensable rating for right foot scar.

The Veteran is currently gainfully employed and will likely continue to be so in the foreseeable future, making a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability was denied as the evidence did not support a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including impingement syndrome and a history of mallet deformity in the ring finger, was granted service connection. The initial rating for this condition is set at 10 percent from June 25, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not of such severity to preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with the right shoulder impingement with degenerative changes rated at 20 percent effective May 19, 2004. The left ankle sprain was also rated at 20 percent effective from the date of the rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional treatment records and to afford him a VA examination for his service-connected left knee and right shoulder disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to his service-connected right shoulder dislocation, finding that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability, characterized as left shoulder trauma with internal derangement, degenerative joint disease, labral tears, and bursitis, has been fully granted by the VA Appeals Management Center in Washington, D.C.

The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran has a left shoulder disability that is etiologically related to service. The Board finds that there is no current diagnosis of a left shoulder condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a low back injury, headaches, bilateral shoulder disorders, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). As such, these claims remain denied.

The Veteran is found to be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board also finds that he is competent for VA purposes.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.