Shoulder decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for osteoarthritis of the right shoulder was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling orthopedic and neurological examinations to determine the current severity of the Veteran's left shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is related to an injury sustained during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, post-surgical repair, did not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and degenerative disease, lumbar and lower thoracic spine due to lack of current disabilities and no etiological relationship.

The Veteran's DJD of the shoulders was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor is it shown to be due to undiagnosed illness as a result of service in the Southwest Asia theater during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that the current left shoulder condition was incurred in or aggravated by service, including use of crutches after foot surgery.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and consideration of a claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of left shoulder, ankle, or right shoulder disorders. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder biceps tendonitis with impingement, and left knee patella femoral syndrome. The RO had previously granted service connection for these conditions but did not assign compensable ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence being added to the claims file after the RO issued an April 2008 Statement of the Case (SOC). The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability is now pending and will be reconsidered by the RO.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder and elbow disabilities, finding no evidence of a chronic condition related to service or service-connected peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of both hands was granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a hearing and obtaining VA examinations to assess the Veteran's right shoulder disability and nonspecific inflammation of the legs, shoulders, stomach, eyes, and skin. The claim is also being referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Services for consideration of entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board found no evidence of a current left shoulder condition and denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed left shoulder disorder. For his right knee condition, the Board determined that it was not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The Board found that pneumonia, which led to the Veteran's death, was not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were granted, with the right shoulder disability being granted direct service connection. The hearing loss claim was denied as not meeting VA criteria for a hearing loss disability. For osteoarthritis and lumbosacral strain with IVDS, a 10 percent evaluation was granted prior to November 28, 2008, and a 20 percent evaluation thereafter.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, and right shoulder strain are not supported by the evidence of record. The Veteran did not have any diagnosed disabilities during active service or within one year post-service, and there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.