Shoulder decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including Social Security Administration records, VA medical records from specific time periods, and a statement from his private health caregiver regarding headaches. The case is therefore being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left shoulder strain and right hip disability were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, C5-6, and service connection for fibromyalgia, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, and arthritis of the shoulders, knees, and wrists were denied. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeal for initial compensable evaluations for his service-connected right shoulder acromioclavicular separation, left ear hearing loss, residuals of left shoulder dislocation, right knee chondromalacia patella, and left knee chondromalacia patella has been denied. The appeals were dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal at the Board hearing.

The Veteran's bursitis of the right shoulder is found to be incurred during service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability warrants a 30 percent rating from December 1, 2005 (but not earlier), and no higher rating is warranted at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for further medical opinions regarding the Veteran's shoulder disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right shoulder impingement syndrome, left foot sesamoid fracture, status post right knee arthroscopy, allergic rhinitis, and migraine cephalalgia. The evaluations were found to be noncompensable under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing and further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or additional functional loss due to pain, fatigue, weakness, or lack of endurance.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, fatigue, and joint pain were denied as new and material evidence was not provided. The claim for increased evaluations for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is pending in the REMAND portion.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for a metal detector as part of his vocational rehabilitation program due to the lack of necessity and vital importance in achieving independent living goals.

The Veteran's claim for separate compensable evaluations for right and left shoulder disorders was granted with an effective date of June 11, 1996.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, and low back disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar spine sprain was rated at 10 percent prior to September 26, 2003. The rating was increased to 40 percent from September 26, 2003 to August 31, 2009, and then reduced back down to 20 percent effective September 1, 2009.

The Veteran asserts that he injured his left shoulder in service, but the records do not support this. The VA will request medical records from a U.S. Air Force Hospital and ask for private medical records to determine if the current left shoulder disability is related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA examination reports for his right shoulder and bilateral pes planus, as the most recent examinations are outdated. The Veteran will be provided with a new opportunity to undergo these examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by recurrent dislocation and pain, is currently rated at 30 percent effective December 14, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.