Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of his case.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rate of SMC based on need for aid and attendance is denied as the disability requiring such assistance is due to his service-connected residuals of poliomyelitis, not separate disabilities.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disability, which arose out of a single accident and currently rated at 60 percent disabling.

The Board in February 1950 denied a higher rating for the right shoulder and assigned a 10 percent rating for the left shoulder scar, effective October 6, 1949. The Veteran's representative argues that the correct application of the existing law would have resulted in a separate compensable rating for residual scarring from the gunshot wound of the right shoulder and an earlier effective date for the award of a separate 10 percent rating for a left shoulder scar as a residual of the gunshot wound.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further evaluation of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and consideration of his claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability. The issue of an increased evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is inextricably intertwined with the issue of his entitlement to a total rating for compensation purposes.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right and left shoulder disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent for the right shoulder disability or an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and the acquisition of additional medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected right elbow, shoulder and wrist disabilities are being remanded for additional examination to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent prior to January 7, 2010 and increased to 20 percent effective from that date. The Board found the initial rating of 20 percent warranted for the period before January 7, 2010 but denied a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is being remanded for additional development to determine if it was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board found no evidence of cold weather injuries to the neck, shoulders, or low back during service and concluded that current disabilities are not related to in-service exposure. Service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis, PTSD, stress fracture of the left third metatarsal, left shoulder impingement with rotator cuff tendonitis, and right shoulder impingement are all found to be related to his military service. The claims for evaluations have been granted.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent prior to August 12, 2008 and increased to 30 percent after January 12, 2010. The appeal is denied as the rating assigned does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The VA has ordered a new examination due to the appellant's complaints of increased left shoulder pain and functional impairment since his last examination. The evaluation of his service-connected disability is on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records, as well as consideration of his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for calcaneal bursitis, schizophrenia, and right shoulder impingement were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for schizophrenia but with a noncompensable rating. The ratings for right shoulder impingement remain unchanged.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability, cystic fibrosis in the breast, and bilateral radiculopathy of the upper extremities. The claim for increased rating for sinusitis was also denied. The claim for compensable rating for status post left tympanic membrane operation (claimed as cholesteatoma) and left ear hearing loss were not addressed due to a separate issue with cystic fibrosis in the breast.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's left shoulder subluxation with degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 20 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.