Shoulder decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the extent of his service-connected left shoulder disability and whether he has right or left hand dominance.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and a supplemental medical opinion from the examiner who conducted his December 2011 VA examination.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was not rated higher than the assigned ratings prior to and after February 9, 2006.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 10% from March 26, 2003 to February 2, 2007. From February 12, 2008 to February 20, 2009 and from February 22, 2010 to May 18, 2011, the disability was rated at 20%. However, from July 1, 2011 to January 2, 2012, a higher rating could not be granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine if any of the Veteran's claimed disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right arm and shoulder disorders are not related to his active duty service, as there was no chronicity of symptoms during or within one year after service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 100%, which meets the criteria for a TDIU rating. The evidence shows that his service-connected conditions have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's TDIU rating was granted effective January 14, 2009. The Board denied an earlier effective date.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various joint conditions, including arthritis of the right foot, left shoulder, right hip, and upper and lower spine, all claimed as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disability. The case has been remanded due to scheduling issues.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination of both shoulders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims for increased initial evaluations for right shoulder rotator cuff strain, degenerative joint disease of the right hip, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant service treatment records and medical documentation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss and left shoulder bursitis. The claim of entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and affording him a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder and low back disabilities did not pre-exist his service or were aggravated by it, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's single service-connected left shoulder disability renders him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for residuals of a right chest and shoulder injury, but denied it on the merits. The claim for service connection for residuals of a right foot and ankle injury is still pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to incomplete records, including missing service treatment records and verification of his periods of active duty. Additional development is needed to address these issues.

The Veteran's muscle and joint pain of the left shoulder is not related to service, but his early degenerative changes in the right hip are considered service-connected.,Fatigue, headaches, and night sweats are all found to be related to service-connected PTSD.