Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further consideration of his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, including consideration of any new evidence submitted since the April 2010 supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and medical treatment records from Fort Leonard Wood base hospital. The Veteran should also be asked to provide any outstanding private physician records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his left shoulder and hip disorders, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for residuals of a back injury. The Board also found that the Veteran's left shoulder and hip disorders were secondary to his service-connected left knee disorder.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a chronic left shoulder disorder, which he claims was incurred during his Army Reserve duty. The Board has ordered the VA to verify the Veteran's active duty periods and obtain any available medical records related to this claim.

The Board found no service connection for the claimed conditions, including bilateral shoulder/hand/wrist disorders and a neurological disorder manifested by numbness in arms and legs. The Veteran's claims were denied as there was no objective evidence of such disabilities during or within one year after service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, and stroke residuals. The Veteran did not have any in-service complaints or diagnoses related to these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left shoulder disorder is not related to his military service or any incident therein, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disorder was not productive of limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side prior to November 6, 2007 and on or after February 1, 2008. Therefore, his initial ratings for this condition were denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in writing prior to the Board's decision.

The Board denied service connection for depression, bilateral foot fungus, right shoulder disability, low back disability, and residuals of hepatitis. The Veteran's claims were reopened but not granted.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent, and his left arm neuropathy is rated at 60 percent. Both conditions meet the criteria for these ratings based on their severity.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support a connection between the Veteran's current right shoulder disability and his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that further VA examination and medical opinion are needed to resolve the matter of service connection for a left shoulder disability due to conflicting statements regarding when the injury originally occurred.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no credible evidence of exposure to herbicides or asbestos in service, and the current presence of diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, bilateral eye disability, bilateral lung condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skeletal arthritis, arthritis of the right hand, left shoulder, and left elbow, peptic ulcer disease, and headaches were not established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss in his left ear and right shoulder disability, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder, which includes frozen shoulder syndrome, is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lower back, bilateral knee, and right shoulder disabilities are related to his service. However, there is no evidence of a hip disability during service or since then.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability, following total shoulder replacement, is shown to be productive of chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness. As such, a 60 percent evaluation is granted for the period beginning October 1, 2007.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from June 16, 2009. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for the neurological manifestations of the Veteran's right shoulder disability (mild incomplete paralysis of the circumflex nerve) and found that her ulcerative colitis was aggravated by her use of NSAIDs, warranting service connection.