Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has granted a temporary total rating for convalescence from February 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010 following surgery on December 17, 2009 for left axilla and perineal excision of hidradenitis. The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder rotator cuff syndrome is also addressed.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral shoulder osteoarthritis, cervical radiculopathy, heart condition (presumably ischemic heart disease), eczema, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA medical opinions provided less than 50% probability for a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis and peripheral neuropathy are related to his service, with doubt resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of chronic bronchitis, residuals of a left fifth finger dislocation, or right ring finger disorder. Service connection was also denied for right ankle and foot disorders, as well as right shoulder and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to a service-connected disability. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board finds that the appellant's right shoulder disability, including arthritis and rotator cuff tendinopathy, was not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities are related to his active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or TDIU based on his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain, PTSD, and right wrist were withdrawn by the Veteran during his hearing.

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.