Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder, back disorder, and joint pain and dysfunction other than back and shoulders are all incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for his cerebrovascular disease and its associated residuals, including dizziness, is granted. He is assigned a minimum of a 10 percent rating effective from November 1, 2007.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder impingement, finding all relevant evidence necessary to decide the Veteran's appeal regarding this issue has been obtained and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The claim for service connection for left knee disorder is pending as there are no medical nexus opinions provided.

The Board has determined that the matter must be remanded for additional development due to the need for a VA examination and further analysis of the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's right shoulder instability and traumatic arthritis were denied as the evaluations remained at 30 percent.,The Veteran's left shoulder instability and traumatic arthritis were also denied, with the same evaluation of 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left shoulder disability was denied, and the denial is upheld due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The right shoulder disorder claim was also denied as there was no evidence showing it was caused by or aggravated by the service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, which has been rated as ankylosis of the scapulohumeral articulation, is found to more closely approximate unfavorable ankylosis for the entire claim/appeal period. As a result, the Veteran is granted a 50 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examination and development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastric adenocarcinoma and an increased rating for his right shoulder sprain prior to April 1, 2009 were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of arm motion at shoulder level prior to April 1, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal of the right knee disability claim has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded for further development regarding the right shoulder disability claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess his service-connected conditions and other issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current disabilities of the Veteran's right shoulder and back, as well as to obtain any outstanding private treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disorder was denied as there is no evidence of current disability. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current right shoulder disorder due to disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is presumed to have been incurred during his military service, but his right shoulder arthritis cannot be linked to his service. The decision on the issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right or left ankle disability, or a right knee disability, that is related to his active service. The evidence of record does not support a finding that any current disabilities are etiologically linked to service.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of her right and left shoulder disorders, thus denying both claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his in-service injury, and grants service connection for a right knee disability. The right shoulder disability was not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claimed additional disabilities of the neck, lower back, right knee, and right shoulder are not deemed to be caused by VA carelessness or negligence.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, post-operative residuals of putti-platt repair with traumatic arthritis and ulnar nerve entrapment syndrome, is currently rated at 30 percent. The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s range of motion was markedly limited by post-operative changes from a putti-platt procedure which significantly reduced his internal rotation.