Shoulder decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand, right arm, bilateral shoulder, and right knee disabilities were denied as secondary to his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine. The Board found no current disability in any of these conditions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various disabilities allegedly related to a November 1974 accident. The Board finds that the injuries occurred in the line of duty and is remanding for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a disability manifested by light sensitivity, a right shoulder disability, or a sciatic nerve disability that is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of service connection for fibromyalgia and left shoulder injury are inextricably intertwined with the pension claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for quadriplegia and related conditions, as well as his claim for an effective date prior to August 31, 1995 for PTSD service connection, were denied. His claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to August 29, 2008 for PTSD was also denied. The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for bilateral ankle disabilities and skin, right arm, and right shoulder disabilities were not addressed as they are outside the scope of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board found that the appellant's claimed disabilities, including right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left foot/ankle, low back, gouty arthritis, and chronic sinusitis, were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service. The most probative evidence established that these conditions are not causally related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including nerve damage and generalized peripheral neuropathy, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examiner opined that the current condition is less likely due to a right shoulder injury.

The Board has reopened several claims and remanded them for further development, including those related to the Veteran's bilateral foot disorder, shoulder disorders, hypertension, PTSD, left wrist disorder, right ear disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, and left elbow disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current right shoulder disorder is related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions including a bilateral foot disorder, left knee disorder, hiatal hernia, residuals of pilonidal cyst, residuals of cholecystectomy, right shoulder disorder, hypertension, heart disorder, asthma, and an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by degenerative joint disease and occasional dislocation, has been found to meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent effective March 2, 2010. The claim for higher ratings prior to that date is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current neck, shoulder, and knee disabilities are related to his in-service injuries. The claims for service connection are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of cervical strain to include arthritis are related to his military service, but the residuals of right shoulder tendonitis were not incurred in active service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status is being remanded due to an inadequate VA examination. The case will be reviewed after further development.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine spondylosis, bilateral sciatica, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's current back disorders are considered to be related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder and an increased rating for left shoulder impingement with arthritis. The Veteran's preexisting right shoulder disorder was not aggravated by active service, and the left shoulder disability did not warrant an increase in evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff injury and is remanding the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current nature, extent, and severity of his skin disability. The issues of service connection for Parkinson's disease and an increased rating for keloids are also being remanded.