Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeal for both issues due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right and left shoulder disabilities prior to June 2, 2009 were denied as the evidence did not show ankylosis or other disabling conditions warranting a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's DJD of the lumbar spine, right shoulder, and left ankle are rated at 40 percent effective July 28, 2008. The rating for his right shoulder is increased to 20 percent from that date.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent since June 6, 2005. The appeal for a higher initial evaluation was denied.,Service connection for the left shoulder disorder and left knee disorder were granted with respective initial evaluations of 20% and 10%. The appeals for higher initial evaluations were denied.,The Veteran's right knee disorder is rated at zero percent since June 6, 2005. The appeal for a higher initial evaluation was denied until November 23, 2006 when the rating was increased to 10%.,Service connection for the right shoulder disorder was not granted.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, characterized by limited motion and pain, does not warrant a rating higher than the current 30 percent assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability with arthritis warrants a rating of 30 percent, effective from July 2009. Prior to this date, the disability was rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent prior to August 9, 2005 and later increased to 20 percent from that date. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating for this period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment only due to his inability to use an unmodified vehicle.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 7, 1999 for service connection of SFW of the right rhomboideus muscle (MG II) is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 7, 1999 for a separate compensable rating for SFW of the right anterior shoulder (MG III) is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, has been received. However, the claims for bilateral shoulder and elbow disabilities have not met the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by traumatic arthritis following surgery, has been rated at 20 percent since the January 2006 rating decision. The current condition does not warrant a higher rating as it only limits motion to shoulder level.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for hypertension, bursitis of the right shoulder, residuals of a low back injury, and residuals of a neck injury. The case is remanded to further develop these claims on the merits.

The Board found that the Veteran's service treatment records were negative for complaints, treatment, or diagnoses of any left shoulder disability. The Board also noted that arthritis of the left shoulder was not exhibited within the first post-service year. Therefore, the claim for service connection for residuals of electrical burns and degenerative changes of the left shoulder was denied.

The Board finds that the RO's determination to recoup $25,631.00 from the Veteran's VA compensation for left and right shoulder disabilities was proper as a matter of law.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative changes of the cervical spine and a bilateral shoulder condition with numbness in arms, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his time in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete opinions and further development is required.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a C&P examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and whether he has arthritis in his shoulders and knees.