Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for post-operative residuals of a right shoulder injury with degenerative changes has been denied as the evidence does not demonstrate that his arm was limited to 25 degrees from the side during any of the periods specified.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant records from various sources.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities due to incomplete medical opinions regarding their onset in or relation to service. The Veteran is asked to provide additional information and evidence, and a VA examination will be scheduled.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the March 2006 decision that assigned May 3, 2005 as the effective date for the grant of service connection for impingement syndrome with mild degenerative changes, left shoulder. The Veteran's claim was denied due to failure to submit new and material evidence within one year of the denial.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the cervical spine to include the shoulders and granted the claim, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective February 7, 2002. He also received a separate rating for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity associated with his cervical spine disability and a 10 percent rating for impingement syndrome of the right shoulder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability and diabetes are not related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder strain has been productive of slight limitation of motion, but she maintains full range of motion and there is no clinical or x-ray evidence of dislocation, nonunion or malunion of the clavicle or scapula; there is also no x-ray evidence of arthritis. The Board finds that her current problems with her shoulder are not associated with her service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing VA examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for a torn deltoid muscle of the left arm, tendonitis of the right shoulder, disc herniation in the lumbosacral spine, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to address the claims of service connection for various right hand, elbow, shoulder, ankle, and first metatarsal disorders. The examiner will provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to service or any other etiology.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his death before a decision was made by the Board.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities' impact on employment, as well as clarification of whether a low back disability is proximately due to or the result of his left shoulder and/or cervical spine disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability, including acromioclavicular degenerative joint disease and chronic dislocations, is related to service and not pre-existing. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, left knee strain, and right knee strain have been denied. The preponderance of the evidence does not support an increase in disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic left shoulder disability, including rotator cuff tears residuals, is related to his service-connected right shoulder disability and grants this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and evaluations, as well as a new VA audiology examination. The issues of service connection for neck disorder, upper extremities disorder, and initial rating for bilateral hearing loss are pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting further examinations. The claims will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, neck, and thoracic joints is not considered to be secondary or aggravated by his service-connected injury of the thoracic muscles with resection of the fourth rib.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, left knee, right knee, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for a left shoulder disability and determined that there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for any of the other conditions.