Shoulder decisions — 2011

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of claim. The right shoulder disability is not entitled to a higher rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The VA determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not contribute to his death, and found that his death was due to natural progression of underlying cardiac disease.

The Veteran's right shoulder arthritis is rated at 20 percent, effective February 10, 2005. The initial rating for excision of toenails of both great and fifth toes was granted as noncompensable (0 percent), effective August 25, 2006.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right shoulder and left shoulder, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The new evidence submitted since the last final denial supports these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral shoulder condition, tinnitus, low back disability, and bilateral knee disability. The conditions are related to in-service noise exposure and injuries.

The Veteran's Reiter's disease with degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder has not been shown to meet or approximate criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent, as there is no evidence of definite impairment of health or three or more incapacitating exacerbations per year.

The Veteran's left shoulder, left ankle, right ankle, pes planus, and right shoulder and forearm lipomas were not found to be related to service or any other service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a shoulder disability and leg disability were denied. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for compression fracture, C-6 with degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was granted (10%). However, the claim for a higher rating since March 31, 2005, remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to July 10, 2009 were denied as there was no evidence of unemployability due solely to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional information is needed regarding the Veteran's service dates and to schedule him for a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, onset and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a left wrist laceration do not warrant an initial schedular disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various disabilities, including a seizure disorder and memory loss, which he claims are related to his pain medication. He also seeks service connection for a left shoulder injury that occurred during a seizure. The case is being remanded for further examination and development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder and left knee disabilities are related to his military service, specifically parachute jumps during periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening his claim of cervical spine disability, and also denied his requests for higher ratings for his right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and arranging for orthopedic and skin examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is service-connected, but his right shoulder calcified tendonitis is not.

The Board found that the July and August 1972 rating decisions did not commit CUE in failing to assign a higher rating for the Veteran's gunshot wound to the left shoulder.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected psychiatric disability, and the Board grants a TDIU from January 16, 1996.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's right shoulder disability warrants an evaluation greater than 30 percent.