Shoulder decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VA compensation examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's sinusitis and right shoulder disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, bilateral shoulder, and right hand conditions are not related to service or a service-connected disability. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for restoration of ratings for his right shoulder disability and residuals of a fracture of the right little finger were denied as there was no evidence showing an actual change in the disabilities that would warrant restoring the previous ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is less likely than not related to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, a right leg disability (other than radiculopathy), and headaches.,There is no evidence of any current disabilities related to the motor vehicle accident in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral ankle disorder, right knee disorder, low back disorder, and right shoulder disorder are all service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, sinusitis, and facial nerve disability secondary to TMJ surgery are all granted with increased ratings. The appeal for right shoulder sprain, right knee arthritis, IBS, and the postoperative scar is dismissed due to withdrawal of appeals.

The Board has denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic disability manifested by right neck and shoulder pain, to include torticollis, was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder. The Board finds that service connection is warranted based on in-service complaints and post-service diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are shown to preclude him from performing substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine, right shoulder, TMJ, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right hip disability, neck disability, and right shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders, migraine headaches, bilateral ankle disorders, bilateral shoulder disorders, a heart disorder, and a skin rash affecting the face, neck, and groin area are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a stomach disability (to include as secondary to Agent Orange exposure), and bilateral ankle, shoulder, and knee disabilities. The Veteran did not have a diagnosed hearing loss or stomach condition that was incurred in service or due to Agent Orange exposure. The ankle, shoulder, and knee disabilities were also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to consider his claims for an increased evaluation for PTSD and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of the left hand, right hip, or left shoulder that are due to cold weather exposure during service. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that none of these disabilities were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorders are not related to his active service, and denied his claims for service connection.