Shoulder decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and multiple joint disorders, are found to be severe enough to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection were denied. The right shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent prior to January 27, 2010.

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

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain relevant medical records and an adequate examination for the Veteran's claims. The case is therefore being remanded.

The Board found that there is a preponderance of evidence against the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities, as they are not related to his period of active service.

The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to the Veteran's cervical spine, shoulder, and hip disorders. The claims were denied as service connection was not established.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and development of her claim regarding the initial evaluation for nerve-type pain from a right shoulder fibrous histiocytoma.

The Board denied all service connection claims, finding no evidence of a nexus between the claimed disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining service treatment records from a period of active duty in 2009 and scheduling him for a VA examination to assess the current manifestations of his left knee and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for cervical spine and bilateral shoulder disabilities, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a right shoulder disability rating is dismissed as there is no valid claim to consider due to the finality of the November 1987 rating decision and lack of CUE.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral knee and right shoulder disorders secondary to service-connected lumbar spine degenerative joint disease due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with Schmorl's nodes is currently rated at 20 percent effective February 2, 2010.,The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent effective February 2, 2010.

The Veteran's current right shoulder disorder is less likely than not related to complaints of right shoulder pain during his time in the military. The examiner noted that the Veteran achieved full range of motion without pain or other abnormalities following treatment and that X-ray images were normal during service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his cervical spine disability was denied. His claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, which had previously been denied, is being considered de novo due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have tendonitis of the shoulders, right wrist, knees, and ankles during service or within one year after separation. The current diagnoses are not related to service.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current right shoulder disability to his military service, and denied his claim for service connection.