Shoulder decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right shoulder disorder that is causally or etiologically related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to January 23, 2009 or a rating in excess of 10 percent at any time for his basal cell carcinoma with actinic keratoses.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis and left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis are service-connected, with no issues related to exposure basis or presumption.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to an internal inconsistency in the April 2010 VA examination report regarding joint ankylosis of his right shoulder. Additional development, including a new VA examination, is needed to determine if he has joint ankylosis and its impact on his ability to work.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder and found that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims of service connection for back and left wrist disorders. The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is deemed to be related to his active duty, while the back and left wrist disorders are considered to have developed due to pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and ankle disabilities have been denied. Claims for bilateral hearing loss, hip disability, knee disability, and left shoulder impingement syndrome are pending.

The Veteran's spouse requires regular personal care assistance from another person due to various disabilities, and the Board has determined that she is in need of aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for further development of his medical records and VA examinations.

The Veteran's skin fungus claim is reopened and service connection is granted.,There is no evidence of a current disability for the 'toma' on the left shoulder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service-connected right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The RO must obtain all relevant medical records and afford the Veteran a VA examination to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic right shoulder disability in service or for several years thereafter, and concluded that the Veteran's current right shoulder condition is more likely due to normal aging than an incident while in the military.

The Board found that the Veteran's varicose veins were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claims for increased ratings for chronic cystic acne and right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeals for initial ratings and increased ratings have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn her appeal.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 10% for the veteran's acne and eczema, finding that the symptoms did not meet criteria for higher ratings under any applicable schedular criteria.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder with impingement syndrome is found to have its onset in service and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the June 4, 1985 rating decision did not contain CUE in assigning an initial noncompensable disability rating for residuals of a left tibial fracture with osteoarthritic changes and chronic chondromalacia of the knee. The denial was based on the evidence showing no functional limitations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his shoulder disabilities and GERD.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's current right and left shoulder disabilities and his service, or any service-connected conditions. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and low back disability was denied. The Board found no evidence of a current acquired psychiatric disability related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected residual scar from excision of lipoma from the back is currently rated at 10 percent, and no greater. The Veteran also has a compensable evaluation for his gunshot wound scars on the left shoulder and chest.