Shoulder Board decisions

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.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder disorder is etiologically related to his active military service and grants service connection for post-traumatic arthritis of the left shoulder.

The Veteran's claim has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to address her neurological impairment and whether a separate compensable rating is warranted for left shoulder nerve damage.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete personnel records, and further efforts are needed to determine if the appellant was on INACDUTRA during his service. The issues of service connection for right shoulder disability and neck disability remain under consideration.

The Veteran's left shoulder arthritis has been rated at 20 percent since April 7, 2010. The claim for an initial increased rating is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as her left and right knee arthritis, are not etiologically related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's left shoulder post-operative degenerative joint disease is rated at 30 percent, and no higher. The right hip degenerative joint disease remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and opinions regarding the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a disability manifested by fungus of the shoulders and neck, as well as his claim for a dental disability, were denied. The denial on the fungus claim is final due to lack of new and material evidence. The dental claim was not reopened.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder impingement status post arthroscopic surgery with superficial neuropathy of the right anterior shoulder is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.,The Veteran's service-connected left knee patellofemoral pain with Baker's cyst is currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent) and has not been increased since December 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing via videoconference. The right shoulder disability claim remains pending and will be adjudicated after the hearing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to transportation issues preventing VA from scheduling necessary examinations at the Dallas VAMC. The Veteran will be provided with 30-days advance notice of these examinations and all pertinent records must be obtained.