Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were granted, with the exception of allergic rhinitis. The Veteran was awarded a 10 percent disability rating for low back strain with hip strain, a 40 percent rating for polycystic ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids, and an initial compensable rating for right foot scar.

The Veteran is currently gainfully employed and will likely continue to be so in the foreseeable future, making a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability was denied as the evidence did not support a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including impingement syndrome and a history of mallet deformity in the ring finger, was granted service connection. The initial rating for this condition is set at 10 percent from June 25, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not of such severity to preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with the right shoulder impingement with degenerative changes rated at 20 percent effective May 19, 2004. The left ankle sprain was also rated at 20 percent effective from the date of the rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional treatment records and to afford him a VA examination for his service-connected left knee and right shoulder disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to his service-connected right shoulder dislocation, finding that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability, characterized as left shoulder trauma with internal derangement, degenerative joint disease, labral tears, and bursitis, has been fully granted by the VA Appeals Management Center in Washington, D.C.

The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran has a left shoulder disability that is etiologically related to service. The Board finds that there is no current diagnosis of a left shoulder condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a low back injury, headaches, bilateral shoulder disorders, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). As such, these claims remain denied.

The Veteran is found to be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board also finds that he is competent for VA purposes.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability due to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multi-symptom illnesses, and the preponderance of the evidence shows that his conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability and bilateral mastectomies, subcutaneous (claimed as surgery on chest) are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder osteoarthritis is rated at 30 percent since July 1, 1996. The left shoulder osteoarthritis is rated at 20 percent since the same date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and skin disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service event/injury/disease associated with those disabilities.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the Veteran's left shoulder disability, which is rated under Diagnostic Code 5202. The evaluation takes into account recurrent subluxation and pain with movement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to her inability to use both lower extremities, blindness in both eyes, or loss of use of both upper extremities.