Shoulder decisions — 2012

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was evaluated at a 20 percent rating from June 1, 2005 to January 27, 2011. Since January 28, 2011, the disability has been rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his shell fragment wound of the left shoulder with scars remains pending and needs to be addressed in a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development of his TDIU claim, including consideration of all service-connected disabilities on employability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder, diagnosed as left shoulder rotator cuff tendinitis and partial thickness tear, is secondarily related to his service-connected right shoulder disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain clarification of the VA examiner's opinion and to ensure all necessary development is completed. The Veteran's right shoulder disorder, including bursitis, will be evaluated in light of his service history and any additional evidence obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various orthopedic disabilities, including bilateral shoulder, arm/wrist, and forearm/wrist disabilities, cervical spine, lumbar spine, left posterior rib cage disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The decision found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for post-operative residuals of a right shoulder injury with degenerative changes has been denied as the evidence does not demonstrate that his arm was limited to 25 degrees from the side during any of the periods specified.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant records from various sources.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities due to incomplete medical opinions regarding their onset in or relation to service. The Veteran is asked to provide additional information and evidence, and a VA examination will be scheduled.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the March 2006 decision that assigned May 3, 2005 as the effective date for the grant of service connection for impingement syndrome with mild degenerative changes, left shoulder. The Veteran's claim was denied due to failure to submit new and material evidence within one year of the denial.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the cervical spine to include the shoulders and granted the claim, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective February 7, 2002. He also received a separate rating for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity associated with his cervical spine disability and a 10 percent rating for impingement syndrome of the right shoulder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability and diabetes are not related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder strain has been productive of slight limitation of motion, but she maintains full range of motion and there is no clinical or x-ray evidence of dislocation, nonunion or malunion of the clavicle or scapula; there is also no x-ray evidence of arthritis. The Board finds that her current problems with her shoulder are not associated with her service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing VA examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for a torn deltoid muscle of the left arm, tendonitis of the right shoulder, disc herniation in the lumbosacral spine, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to address the claims of service connection for various right hand, elbow, shoulder, ankle, and first metatarsal disorders. The examiner will provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to service or any other etiology.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his death before a decision was made by the Board.