Shoulder decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis and right shoulder disability are being reviewed to determine if they are related to her service, with a focus on whether the conditions were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of left shoulder injury with arthritis and neck pain was denied, as the medical evidence did not show symptoms warranting such a higher rating. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for headaches was also denied due to lack of sufficient evidence demonstrating severe economic inadaptability or frequent prostrating attacks.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities, as well as his knee disability, have been denied higher ratings.,Service connection for a psychiatric disorder has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain treatment records from the Veteran's ACDUTRA duty and other relevant medical records.

The Veteran's right shoulder tendinitis is currently rated at 20 percent effective December 2, 2009. The claim for hepatitis C remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations. The issues include rating claims for various disabilities, as well as service connection for shoulder disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings for various conditions, including tendinopathy of the left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, ankle strain, tremor of uncertain etiology, and a gland condition. The Veteran's degenerative disc disease, C5-6 and C6-7, was rated at 20 percent, while his chronic low back strain remained at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition, finding that no new and material evidence had been received.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is currently employed in a part-time capacity and capable of performing sedentary work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability resulting from the excision of a keloid mass during service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability prior to February 28, 2008 was denied by the Board.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA neurological examination to determine if any current neurological symptoms affecting either upper extremity are part-and-parcel of the veteran's service-connected DJD of either shoulder or represent a separate and distinct neurological disability caused by the service-connected DJD.

The Board has reviewed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions and determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen any of these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disability did not present an exceptional or unusual picture for any portion of the appeal period prior to September 19, 1997 and as of April 1, 1998, thus denying a claim for an extraschedular rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings, finding that his claimed conditions were not established as incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left knee disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active service. The case is being remanded to obtain an opinion regarding whether her pre-existing hypertension was aggravated during service, and for a determination on her right shoulder injury claim.

The Veteran is seeking to reopen his claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability. The Board has decided that additional development, including scheduling the Veteran for an in-person hearing before a VLJ at the RO, is necessary.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right arm and shoulder, left arm and shoulder, right hand and finger disorders as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for anoxic encephalopathy with residual impairment of cognitive and cerebral function. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, back, face and nose scars, and migraine headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.