Shoulder decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent prior to October 27, 2009 and at 30 percent as of that date. The Board granted a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disability and found that new evidence submitted since the last final denial indicates that his current condition was incurred or aggravated by active duty. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back, right shoulder, and hypertension disabilities were denied. The VA found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected residuals of injury, right pectoral region resulting in scar and painful limitation of shoulder motion claimed as right brachial plexus injury, right shoulder with residual radial nerve damage, muscle damage, and rotation of the shoulder is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected psychiatric disability, bipolar disorder with depression. The cause of death was listed as probable cardiac arrhythmia due to an enlarged heart. Given the evidence, including the independent medical evaluation, which concluded that the medications prescribed for his psychiatric condition likely contributed to his death, the Board has granted service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's left shoulder impingement syndrome is found to be related to his time in service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his right shoulder disability and determine if there are any functional limitations due to pain or other symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis is manifested by a right maxillary nasal polyp, and the Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 6522.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore, denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran does not have a knee disability, neck disability, left shoulder disability, or acquired psychiatric disorder that were caused by his service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a separate chronic headache disorder or other disabilities warranting separate ratings. The current rating for sinusitis is 30 percent and does not meet criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a left shoulder disability were denied as there was no in-service injury or disease, and the current disabilities are not related to military service. The Veteran does not have basic eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic right shoulder or back disability in service, and the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his active duty. Headaches were also not shown to be due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hand and shoulder disabilities, as well as for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The case is dismissed.

The Veteran does not have a shoulder disability that is attributable to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions on whether the Veteran's right shoulder disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability. The Veteran needs to provide private treatment records and a VA examination to determine if there is a relationship between his disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to adjudication of the claims. The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, left shoulder disorder, IBS, chronic headaches, depression, bilateral knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome are REMANDED.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his attorney prior to the Board making a decision.