Shoulder decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for an examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right shoulder disability. The examiner should clarify whether the Veteran is right or left-handed and address any functional impairment/loss.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder supraspinatus tear repair is currently rated at 20 percent, but the VA adjudicator found that it does not warrant an evaluation in excess of this amount.

The Board has determined that a rating of 40 percent, but no higher, is warranted for the Veteran's right shoulder disability as of October 5, 2009. Prior to this date, the criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disorders due to a lack of evidence showing current disability or continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's preexisting bilateral knee condition was aggravated by active duty military service. The right shoulder disorder is not related to active military service, and hypertension may not be presumed to have been incurred due to the nature of the exposure basis provided. Diabetes mellitus developed prior to the Veteran's period of active duty in question (i.e., from January 2003 to July 2003) and did not increase in severity during active service.

The Board granted increased ratings for the appellant's service-connected right and left hallux valgus disabilities. The decision denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the appellant's service-connected left knee disability and a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability is not related to his service, and denied both his claim for service connection and his TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging a joint examination to determine service connection for joint pain.

The Veteran's right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities are all found to be service-connected.,Headaches have been granted a noncompensable rating prior to March 30, 2006. Since then, the Veteran is rated at 10 percent for headaches.

The Veteran seeks service connection for left elbow, wrist, and shoulder disabilities. The case is being remanded to provide additional development including a VA examination to determine the current residuals of his service-connected malaria and whether any currently present disability of the left wrist, elbow, or shoulder was caused or aggravated by the service-connected malaria.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's shoulder joint and muscle pain is not shown to be related to service, and the Board denies service connection.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left shoulder disability, secondary to a gunshot wound to the left base of the neck, since September 5, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not presented to reopen the claims. The low back disability claim is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including VA examinations and the provision of updated medical records.

The Board denied all issues related to service connection and initial evaluations for various disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for increased ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.