Shoulder decisions — 2004

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's chronic subluxation of the right shoulder, finding that his current condition is a result of an injury sustained during basic training in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining verification of the veteran's reserves service and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and acne. The RO is instructed to locate the veteran's original claims file, verify stressors, obtain additional medical opinions, and arrange for further development.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability in service or within the first post-service year, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, generalized joint stiffness, and a left shoulder disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disorder and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between current shoulder problems and service.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for the service-connected right shoulder disability effective from June 1, 2002. The veteran's claim for a higher rating prior to that date is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right shoulder disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent, as his range of motion is not limited to 25 degrees from the side.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disorder, right shoulder disorder, and low back disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, low back disability, and upper respiratory disorder.,There is no evidence of chronic conditions in service or until many years after service separation. The veteran's current disabilities are not related to military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, right shoulder disability, and low back disability. The claims are now considered on their merits.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired right shoulder disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for an orthopedic examination.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's right shoulder separation, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for VA benefits due to lack of new and material evidence, maintaining that the appellant's discharge was dishonorable.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for SMC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s) for the period from March 17, 1997 to April 30, 1998 due to lack of additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent and because he was not substantially confined as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied reopening the claims of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder and low back disabilities due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left shoulder scar is being remanded due to the need for further examination and development of medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left shoulder disability and PTSD, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating. The veteran was also found ineligible for pension benefits due to lack of wartime service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and an examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left shoulder disability.