Shoulder decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, but granted service connection for a skin condition claimed as eczema.,Service connection was established for the Veteran's skin condition (claimed as eczema) based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and medical examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected knee, ankle, low back, and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination reports and needs further medical evaluation for skin disorder and right shoulder disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee, right knee, and right shoulder disorders are not service-connected as they do not have a direct link to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's RSD and left shoulder disability were caused by VA medical care, specifically a failure to exercise proper care in treating his post-operative infection. The resulting complications are considered compensable under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board found no evidence that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability was incurred in service or due to a service-connected condition. The VA examiners provided opinions indicating that there is insufficient medical evidence to support a connection between the Veteran's current left shoulder disability and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining vocational rehabilitation records and scheduling an examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board found no evidence of a pre-existing condition for the claimed disabilities and concluded that they were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his right shoulder disability. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder and TDIU are also being addressed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cataracts, concussion with residual headaches, and shell fragment wounds in January 1980. The decision was based on the evidence of record at that time.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, stomach ulcers, and left shoulder disability due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions or their onset in service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected gunshot wound injury, left shoulder, with traumatic arthritis, and Muscle Group I impairment is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, right knee, and left knee conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right shoulder impingement, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent from April 30, 2003, and a rating in excess of 30 percent from August 7, 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected dysthymic disorder with some anxiety, recurrent dislocation of the left shoulder, acneform dermatitis, and maxillary sinusitis meet the criteria for a TDIU rating due to their severity and combined effect on his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, upper spine, neck, and shoulder disabilities. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and left shoulder disorders. The Veteran's right knee, right ankle, cholecystectomy residuals, and bilateral retina disabilities are currently rated at the lowest possible disability rating of 10%.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete service treatment records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to determine if his current right shoulder and left knee disorders are related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right shoulder tendinitis and chronic strain, chest scars (stretch marks), and other scars are related to service. The Veteran's mental stress and fatigue/nervousness disabilities have not been shown to be related to service.