Shoulder decisions — 2014

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with a rating of 60 percent for prostatitis effective February 20, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left shoulder disorder due to inadequate examinations, incomplete records, and unclear rationale in previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service-connected right shoulder disability was denied by the RO. The Board remanded the case to obtain additional VA treatment records and adjudicate whether there was clear and unmistakable error in a May 1971 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's current right and left shoulder disorders to his service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for payment of unauthorized medical expenses at the Monroe Clinic on July 6, 2008 is denied because VA facilities were feasibly available and using them beforehand would have been reasonable, sound, wise, and practical.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and new examinations are needed. The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating will be reconsidered after all requested information is obtained.

The VA has determined that the appellant's left shoulder disorder and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine do not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 10 percent ratings.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability of any of the claimed conditions, and there is no evidence linking these disabilities to service. The VA examinations and VHA specialist opinions do not support a finding that any of the disabilities are related to the 1969 motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's fibromyositis of the right scapula area and right shoulder girdle was rated at 10 percent prior to November 18, 2008. Since then, a rating of 20 percent has been granted.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been rated at 30 percent since the entire increased rating period on appeal, with moderately severe impairment of the deltoid muscle.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability and granted service connection for a right shoulder rotator cuff tear with tendinopathy.,Service connection was also granted for a right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities prevent him from working.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination to determine if any additional disabilities were caused or aggravated by a fall on June 9, 2008.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records from jails and determining if his injuries were willful misconduct.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The bilateral hearing loss disability remains noncompensable.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of his left knee and right shoulder disabilities, as the competent and credible evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left shoulder disability. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD will also be addressed.

The Veteran's right shoulder tendinitis is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.,Her status postoperative right and left second toes are not shown to be disabling enough for a compensable rating.