Shoulder decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities require additional development, including VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for her right shoulder acromioclavicular subluxation, left shoulder reconstruction with residuals (exclusive of a period of an assigned temporary total rating), and migraine headaches were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support granting any increased ratings.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his right shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA vocational rehabilitation records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability was as likely as not aggravated by his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's Dupuytren's contracture of the right hand was found to be incurred in service and granted service connection.

The Board denied service connection for amputations of the left thumb and index and middle fingers, as well as arthritis of the left hand, elbow, shoulder, and neck. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were related to active military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder with anxiety, residuals of rubella, right ankle disability, and left shoulder disability as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran did not have any of the claimed conditions during or as a result of his service in the military. Therefore, the claims for hair loss, diarrhea, right shoulder disability, chest pain, right hand disability, and chloracne are denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right shoulder disorder. The VA has determined that further examination and opinion are needed to determine if the current condition is related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right shoulder disability, characterized by recurrent dislocations and a post-surgical scar, was denied. The current rating of 30 percent is deemed adequate given the range of motion observed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for her service-connected thoracolumbar spine and right shoulder arthritis due to additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left shoulder impingement syndrome and depressive disorder, do not render him unemployable. The VA compensation examiner found that the Veteran requires sedentary employment but is capable of obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, amputation of the left leg above the knee, residuals of cold injury of the right lower extremity, arthritis of the right knee, arthritis of the right and left shoulders, and residuals of a left chest injury. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a causal link between these conditions and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current neck, back, left shoulder, and right shoulder disorders are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a right shoulder disability, finding that he did not have a current disability to relate to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist disorder, stroke, and right shoulder disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his complaints during service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right and left shoulder disabilities, back disability, hypertension, and left foot disability have been reopened. An initial compensable evaluation (10%) has been assigned for degenerative joint disease of the right great toe.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increased rating for status post right shoulder arthroplasty with degenerative joint disease, as it was considered a full grant of benefits in a June 2010 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical examinations, as well as to ensure that all due process requirements are met.