Shoulder decisions — 2012

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities' impact on employment, as well as clarification of whether a low back disability is proximately due to or the result of his left shoulder and/or cervical spine disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability, including acromioclavicular degenerative joint disease and chronic dislocations, is related to service and not pre-existing. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, left knee strain, and right knee strain have been denied. The preponderance of the evidence does not support an increase in disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic left shoulder disability, including rotator cuff tears residuals, is related to his service-connected right shoulder disability and grants this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and evaluations, as well as a new VA audiology examination. The issues of service connection for neck disorder, upper extremities disorder, and initial rating for bilateral hearing loss are pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting further examinations. The claims will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, neck, and thoracic joints is not considered to be secondary or aggravated by his service-connected injury of the thoracic muscles with resection of the fourth rib.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, left knee, right knee, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for a left shoulder disability and determined that there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for any of the other conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and considering any new evidence submitted.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was originally rated as 20 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5202, effective August 27, 1958. The Board has now reinstated this rating and assigned a separate 30 percent evaluation for the same condition under Diagnostic Code 5201, effective July 8, 2005.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim for further development due to inadequate medical opinion and potential referral for extraschedular consideration. The Veteran's recent VA treatment records, a VA examination report, and possibly another medical opinion are needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU due to service-connected left shoulder disability were denied. The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for an orthopedic examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including those of the hands, shoulders, neck, knees, and feet (excluding cold injuries), were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The VA denied service connection for these conditions based on a lack of evidence linking them to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is related to injuries he sustained during his active duty service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral knee disabilities are related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and a history of compression fracture of T12-L1 with muscular strain, met the minimum schedular percentage standards for a total disability rating from August 16, 1991. The Board found that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of his service-connected disabilities starting September 7, 1994.

The Board has granted service connection for chondromalacia of the knees, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service diagnosis and treatment.,Service connection was denied for neck disability and bilateral shoulder disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran has a qualifying chronic disability manifested by arthralgia in the low back, knees, shoulders, and elbows that is related to his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development and readjudication of his service connection claims, including consideration of recent VA treatment records and private medical evidence.

The Veteran's left shoulder strain was rated as noncompensable prior to June 25, 2010 and at a 10 percent rating since then. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.