Shoulder decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions. The case is being remanded for further development.

The veteran's service-connected left shoulder condition is rated at 50 percent disabling and does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on his disability alone.

The Board has determined that the veteran currently suffers from left shoulder tendonitis with a retained metallic foreign body related to an injury caused by a split rim tire explosion during active duty service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's right shoulder tendonitis/bursitis was found to be incurred in service, warranting service connection. The other issues were not addressed as they are referred for further development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left shoulder separation, currently rated at 20 percent.

The veteran withdrew his appeals concerning the claims of service connection for a left shoulder disability and a compensable evaluation for the bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's claim is being remanded due to a failure to report for VA examinations, and the case must be readjudicated with proper notification of consequences.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disability does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, but denied the other issues due to lack of a waiver from the veteran regarding the examination reports.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of punji stick wound and assigned initial disability ratings for PTSD, retained shrapnel and scar of the left upper eyelid, and scars of the right shoulder area. The veteran's PTSD is rated 50% before December 31, 2001, and 70% as of that date. The scars are not compensable.

The Board denied an increase in the evaluation for the veteran's left shoulder disability, currently rated at 20 percent.

The case is being remanded for further development and examination to determine the validity of the veteran's claims, including a left shoulder disability, erectile dysfunction, and headache disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities of the right foot/ankle, right shoulder or neck. The service-connected low back disability is rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions, including left shoulder and knee disabilities, were not incurred or aggravated by his military service. The right shoulder condition is currently rated as noncompensably disabling.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration, including scheduling a hearing before the Board.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability. The veteran's current right shoulder disability, diagnosed as right shoulder bursitis, is related to his in-service injury.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability, pes planus, acne, and bilateral knee disability. The veteran's preexisting conditions were found to have been aggravated by his military service.

The VA denied a higher evaluation for the veteran's right shoulder disability, which was initially granted in October 1997. The current medical evidence shows that the veteran has some range of motion to above shoulder level with pain and subluxation.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected shoulder GSW residuals and a TDIU were denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right foot weakness and dysfunction with deformity of first, second, and third toes; left shoulder disability (shell fragment wound); right shoulder scar with retained foreign body as a residual of shell fragment wound; right thigh scar with retained foreign body as a residual of shell fragment wound; right knee scar with retained foreign body as a residual of shell fragment wound; and lumbar area scar with retained foreign body as a residual of shell fragment wound.