Shoulder decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder and left knee have been remanded due to new evidence submitted after a previous denial, and additional development is needed including obtaining VA treatment records, SSA records, and an opinion regarding aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination. Without an examination, the Board cannot determine if the claimed conditions are related to service or secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities of the knees, ankles, shoulders and hands as they are not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left shoulder impingement prior to September 28, 2010 or from September 28, 2010 onwards. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ulnar palsy and lumbar spine strain were also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and a need for a new VA examination of the Veteran's right shoulder disability. The issues on appeal include service connection for a back disability, to include as due to impingement syndrome, right shoulder, and an increased rating for impingement syndrome, right shoulder.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative.

The Board denied a disability rating greater than 20 percent for the Veteran's left shoulder arthropathy with recurrent dislocations, finding that the criteria were not met.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a gunshot injury to the right shoulder are currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, arthritis of the finger, arthritis of the shoulder, cold weather residuals of the lower and upper extremities. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding any current disabilities are related to military service.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and left shoulder disability, finding no evidence of a direct relationship to 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 left shoulder disability and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for a reduction in his left shoulder disability evaluation from 40 percent to 30 percent effective July 1, 2012 was denied. The Board found that the reduction did not comply with applicable regulations and thus was improper.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder is not attributable to or related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and further development of the cervical spine and left shoulder disability claims.

The Board has determined that additional VCAA notice is required as the current notice did not include a list of service-connected disabilities and an explanation of the information or evidence needed to establish a disability rating and effective date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability associated with hematuria, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The claims for right knee disorder and bilateral shoulder disorder are remanded for further examination to determine their etiology. The initial compensable evaluation for deviated nasal septum with allergic rhinitis is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and other issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and left shoulder disorder due to insufficient development of evidence. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for postoperative residuals of a right shoulder dislocation was denied. The Board also found that the Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person is not currently pending.