Shoulder decisions — 2010

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for skin condition(s) of the scrotal and/or shoulder areas due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, which relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The claim is now reviewed on a de novo basis.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings has been withdrawn, and the claims for cervical intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbar degenerative disc disease, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, left upper extremity radiculopathy with cubital tunnel syndrome, residuals of partial medial meniscectomy, residual spurring from ankle injury, headaches associated with discectomy and fusion, and scar have all been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is about a higher rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability, which has been rated at 20 percent. The RO needs to arrange for the Veteran to undergo a VA examination and obtain any additional records before deciding whether to grant an extra-schedular rating or remand the case.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability rating under VA compensation standards.,For his low back disorder, the evidence shows that he has forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine between 60 degrees and 85 degrees; or combined range of motion greater than 120 degrees but not more than 235 degrees. There is no evidence of muscle spasm, guarding, localized tenderness, ankylosis, or additional functional impairment due to repetitive use.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a dental disability, bilateral ankle disability, left shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, facial rash, and left leg disability, were denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease that resulted in current disabilities.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for right shoulder and right knee disorders to the RO for further development. The Veteran's conditions are being considered secondary to his already service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to clarify his hearing loss and arthritis diagnoses, as well as to determine the etiology of his peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficient to meet the threshold rating criteria for consideration of a TDIU, but further examination is needed to determine if his PTSD alone renders him unemployable.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran is also granted an increased rating for his left shoulder calcific tendonitis.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is related to his service-connected status-post crush injury of the left anterior ribs, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder condition and determined that the Veteran's TDIU claim is part of his increased rating claim. The case is remanded to obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone preclude him from obtaining or retaining employment.

The Board denied the reopening of a previously denied claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, concluding that the right shoulder disability existed prior to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left elbow and shoulder is being remanded due to inadequate examination, incomplete VA treatment records, and need for further development.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent, and he seeks a higher rating. The claim for a separate 10% rating for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 was denied as his other conditions are already compensated.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing and obtaining VA outpatient records from prior to December 2007.

The Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected as they are either diagnosed after service or not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's joint problems, including osteoarthritis of the right shoulder, bilateral knees, and bilateral hips, were not causally or etiologically related to his military service. The Board also could not establish a connection between these conditions and his service-connected meningitis.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected right shoulder injury is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, post-hemiarthroplasty, is currently rated at 30 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.