Shoulder decisions — 2010

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinea pedis, and plantar fasciitis. The initial compensable evaluations for recurrent lipomas, multiple lipoma excision scars on the left flank and right elbow, and a left flank scar have also been denied. The Board has not addressed the claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right elbow, right ankle, right shoulder, lower jaw, right foot sural neuropathy, or left foot sural neuropathy as they are considered part of the initial grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of left shoulder disability, service connection for a chronic gastric disorder and PTSD were denied. The claim for an effective date prior to February 2, 2007, for hypoesthesia of the left upper extremity was referred.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for neurological impairment of the left shoulder and an initial rating higher than 20 percent for residuals of a left shoulder injury on an extraschedular basis has been denied. The evidence does not support granting these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his right shoulder disorder and cervical disorder was denied. The initial evaluation for the right shoulder disorder remains at 20 percent, while a 40 percent rating is maintained for the cervical disorder.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, diagnosed as sternoclavicular degenerative joint disease, has been rated at 10 percent since the grant of service connection. The Board found that the evidence supported this rating based on arthritis and limitation of motion.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was initially rated as noncompensable from December 1, 2004. From March 16, 2006, a 10 percent rating is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability and assigned a 20 percent rating, effective October 11, 1991. The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date.

Your increased rating appeal and the reopening of your service connection claims for left shoulder disorder and ventral hernia are being remanded to the RO for further action.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including obtaining service treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for all issues except PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is denied as he did not meet the schedular threshold and his unemployability was due to factors other than his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left shoulder disabilities have been denied. The RO has maintained the current disability ratings, with no changes.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including dislocation and degenerative joint disease, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder bicipital tendinitis and left shoulder impingement, both of which are considered direct service connections. The Veteran's current disabilities have been established as a result of in-service injuries.

The Veteran's left shoulder AC joint separation, including arthritis and limitation of motion, is rated at 30 percent effective October 1, 2007.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left shoulder injury is causally related to his service, and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and bilateral shoulder disorder are not related to service-connected right forearm and left thumb disabilities, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis with recurrent dislocations of the right shoulder was granted a 20 percent evaluation effective from March 14, 2005 to April 27, 2006, and again from July 1, 2006. The Veteran's disability has not been manifested by ankylosis or other severe impairment.