Shoulder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist and left shoulder disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his right shoulder disability was denied by the Board. The maximum schedular rating of 30 percent is assigned based on limitation of motion, but no higher ratings are available under other applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right shoulder and right knee disabilities were denied. The increased rating claims for cervical spine, left clavicle, and left knee disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was not aggravated by service, and his initial rating for migraine headaches prior to April 27, 2007 is denied. However, beginning in April 27, 2007, a higher rating of 30 percent is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination of the left shoulder and cervical/thoracic spines. The claim will be readjudicated after this development.

The Board has granted effective dates of April 20, 2004 for a 10 percent evaluation for right shoulder dislocation and postoperative status, L5-S1 laminectomy and discectomy.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to link any of the disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected left shoulder disability has been granted, with a rating of 30 percent effective December 12, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine strain was properly rated at 10 percent, but not higher. Claims for right arm, shoulder, and head/neck disabilities were also denied as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine strain.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral spine and left shoulder disabilities, finding no evidence of such conditions during active service or related to service.

The Veteran's sinusitis and left shoulder scapula thoracic bursitis with SLAP repair have been granted service connection. The Veteran's residuals of pneumonia claim is denied, but his initial disability rating for the shoulder condition has been increased to 10 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for depression and a left shoulder injury. The remaining issues of service connection for other conditions are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability was granted, with the effective date being October 5, 2006. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for residuals of a fracture of the left clavicle/left shoulder condition with transient brachial plexopathy beginning October 5, 2006. A separate compensable rating for neurological impairment associated with his shoulder disability was not granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating, service connection, and special monthly compensation are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for hypertension, as secondary to kidney stones. The claims of service connection for left elbow and shoulder disabilities have also been denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right posterior shoulder injury is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's deltoid muscle injury is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's trapezius muscles injury is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's left chest injuries are currently rated as noncompensable, but the Board has granted separate compensable ratings for each scar.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder and spondylitic changes of the lumbosacral spine have been granted higher initial ratings.

The VA determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left shoulder pain, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral hips, and left knee pain have been granted. The claim for residuals of right ankle sprains, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus is dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.