Shoulder decisions — 2011

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis and osteoarthritis was granted at a 10% level. The Board also noted that the Veteran may be entitled to a separate compensable rating for neurological manifestations of his cervical spine disability, but did not address this issue further.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability (claimed as secondary to left knee disability) due to lack of evidence showing a link between these disabilities and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed skin disorders, musculoskeletal strain, numbness of the hands, facial congestion and breathing difficulties, sperm or semen abnormalities, right shoulder disorder, and right knee disorder are not etiologically related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for migraines, a bilateral shoulder disorder, hair loss, and an ulcer (claimed as tumor of the right thigh). Ratings in excess of 10 percent have been granted for retropatellar pain syndrome of each knee.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the nature and extent of his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for PVD of the right lower extremity. The Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim was denied because none of the newly submitted evidence pertained to the reasons for the prior denial nor raised the reasonable possibility of substantiating the underlying claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and any relevant medical records from Bell Laboratories. A VA examination is also needed to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed neck or shoulder disabilities.

The Board has determined that further development is needed, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability and shoulder disability will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder/upper extremity disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records and additional medical records.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, depressive disorder, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left shoulder disability. The RO has already granted service connection for these conditions but is seeking higher initial ratings.

The Board has remanded the case to afford the Veteran a VA examination in connection with his claims for service connection for various arm, shoulder, neck, and back disorders. The examiner should consider the Veteran's assertions of injuries during service and provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that any identified disabilities are related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the conditions did not meet the criteria for higher initial ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the relationship between his current disabilities and his military service.

Service connection for left ear hearing loss and right shoulder with degenerative joint disease (DJD) has been granted, but the Veteran's claim for an increased rating remains on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, diagnosed after a total shoulder arthroplasty in 2006, is at least as likely as not related to service. The preponderance of evidence supports the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a left shoulder disability at any time following his separation from active service, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable ratings for his claimed conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection or higher ratings.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right shoulder strain and atopic dermatitis are related to service, but her bilateral hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for a disability.