Shoulder decisions — 2015

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right foot disability and remanded it due to further development being required. The claims for arthritis of the right hand, left hand, right shoulder, and left shoulder are also remanded. Service connection is not granted for any hip or knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability. The diagnoses were not related to service or the presumption of in-service exposure.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus, left shoulder disability, and neck disability as the Veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the left shoulder is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability level and symptomatology.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional records from Dr. Castillo and other treatment records.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent since August 31, 2009. The VA examiner found that the Veteran had pain and stiffness but no incapacitation in the past year. He was granted a temporary 100% evaluation during certain periods of convalescence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder condition, including cervical radiculopathy and neuritis, is secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spondylosis with foraminal stenosis and for rotator cuff tendonitis and subsequent osteoarthritis of the left shoulder. The claim for respiratory disability, to include COPD, was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development, including consideration of additional VA examination reports and obtaining outstanding medical records. The matter of a TDIU due to service-connected right shoulder injury will also be considered.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's post-operative residuals of left shoulder dislocations, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death. No decisions were made on the merits of any claims.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic headaches, granted a compensable rating for residual scar left foot laceration prior to May 6, 2011, and denied entitlement to higher ratings for the other conditions. The Veteran's GERD and bilateral pinguecula were also found not to warrant compensable ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to a hearing request not being honored, and the Veteran's representative requested postponement of the hearing. The appeal is now pending for further action.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his right shoulder impingement syndrome is being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and a new examination.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was granted increased ratings from 10 to 20 percent disabling effective July 17, 2009, and then again from 20 to 40 percent disabling effective February 15, 2011. The Veteran also received a grant of an increased rating for his right shoulder scar.

The Veteran's claim for a rating increase for his gunshot wound was granted, but his pension benefits were denied due to his felony conviction. The Board found that the denial of pension benefits was not clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition, which included pain and limited motion but no significant functional impairment or disability affecting daily activities, did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating beyond 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a left hip disability (claimed as osteoarthritis) and awarded temporary total rating based on convalescence following right foot bunionectomy. Service connection was denied for back cysts, bilateral sciatica, neck strain, and right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his left shoulder disorder and determine if it is related to an inservice injury. Relevant treatment records are also requested.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, to include degenerative disc disease, and left shoulder disability are being remanded for additional development as the Board finds that a VA examination is necessary to determine their etiology.