Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran seeks an annual clothing allowance due to service-connected disabilities that require the use of orthopedic devices which tend to wear or tear his clothing. The appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion from the DOC regarding the impact of the Veteran's orthopedic devices on his clothing.

The Board has granted service connection for traumatic arthritis of the cervical and thoracic spine, both shoulders, and lumbosacral spine. The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) is REMANDED.

The Board has granted service connection for lupus and the associated hip, shoulder, and joint conditions. The Veteran's service-connected mechanical low back pain is rated at 40 percent from October 18, 1997.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling an in-person hearing before a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) sitting at the RO. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left shoulder and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated as 20 percent disabling since August 12, 2008.

The Board has decided the case needs further development due to a need for an additional medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current left shoulder disability, including tendonitis, was caused or aggravated by his service-connected gout.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as his request for a TDIU. The issues of reduction in rating were found to have been properly processed.

The Board denied initial ratings in excess of the assigned disability ratings for the Veteran's right shoulder disability during the periods specified.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The claim for service connection for congenital hemivertebral scoliosis and a developmental shoulder abnormality was denied due to lack of evidence showing aggravation beyond its natural progression.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability with scar is rated at 30 percent, effective November 5, 2007. His left flat foot remains rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder and right hip disabilities were denied as there is no evidence of limitation of motion at the shoulder level or abduction beyond 10 degrees, which would warrant a higher rating under VA schedular criteria.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent prior to October 27, 2009 and at 30 percent as of that date. The Board granted a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disability and found that new evidence submitted since the last final denial indicates that his current condition was incurred or aggravated by active duty. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back, right shoulder, and hypertension disabilities were denied. The VA found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected residuals of injury, right pectoral region resulting in scar and painful limitation of shoulder motion claimed as right brachial plexus injury, right shoulder with residual radial nerve damage, muscle damage, and rotation of the shoulder is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected psychiatric disability, bipolar disorder with depression. The cause of death was listed as probable cardiac arrhythmia due to an enlarged heart. Given the evidence, including the independent medical evaluation, which concluded that the medications prescribed for his psychiatric condition likely contributed to his death, the Board has granted service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's left shoulder impingement syndrome is found to be related to his time in service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.