Shoulder decisions — 2010

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, which is already rated at 40 percent, does not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of nonunion of the humerus or loss of head of the humerus.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to obtain SSA records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected low back, right hip, and right shoulder disabilities.

The Board denied increased ratings for left shoulder and left hip disabilities, finding that the current ratings of 20 percent were appropriate based on limitation of motion with additional functional impairment due to painful motion and weakness.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, right knee instability as a residual of removal of an osteochondroma of the right distal medial femur, and right hip disability as a residual of removal of an osteochondroma of the right distal medial femur. The rating for major depression remains at 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg disability and bilateral shoulder strain, finding no evidence of such conditions during or after active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records and arranging for a VA examination during a flare-up of his disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a left shoulder disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD is granted, and the Board finds that his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hand disability, residuals of left and right finger injuries, and diabetes mellitus, type II were denied. Service connection was granted for status post lacerated wound, left index finger.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is not service connected as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including adjudicating the veteran's new claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder and hip disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The T/R claim will be readjudicated based on all of the veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including VA examinations and readjudication of service connection claims. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also pending.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for corrective notice regarding new and material evidence, consistent with prior standards.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for his right shoulder and right hand/arm conditions, concluding that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is rated at 100 percent, and his right shoulder strain is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that a rating of 100 percent for PTSD is warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, low back disability, neck disability, weakness in legs, and laceration on the back. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these disabilities and active military service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was granted an increased rating from 10 to 20 percent, effective November 28, 2005.