Shoulder decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder disability, which is currently rated at 40 percent, does not warrant a higher rating. The bilateral high frequency hearing loss is also currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has granted service connection for epicondylitis of the left elbow and disability of both shoulders. The veteran's hyperpigmentation of the lateral neck (left shoulder) is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for service connection, increased evaluations, and fibromyalgia.

The veteran's service-connected herpes simplex, chronic cervical strain, and chronic right shoulder strain have been granted. The veteran is currently receiving a 10 percent rating for her herpes simplex, effective July 3, 1998. Her chronic cervical strain has been rated as noncompensable since the grant of service connection in July 3, 1998. Her chronic right shoulder strain also has a noncompensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA orthopedic examination to determine if the veteran's left shoulder adhesive capsulitis is related to service.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for chronic tendinitis of the left shoulder and postoperative residuals effective January 17, 2003. The veteran's other claims were not addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic acquired, variously diagnosed right shoulder disorder on a secondary basis to the service-connected neurological disability of the right upper extremity. The claim for multiple shrapnel injuries to both arms is remanded due to missing records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to consider the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right shoulder disability, including consideration of staged ratings and VA examination findings.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a hearing before the Board at the Nashville RO. The issues of service connection for depression secondary to his shoulder and varicocele disabilities, as well as an increased rating for adhesive capsulitis of the left shoulder, are pending.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of shoulder and hand injuries, right shoulder injury, neck condition (including degenerative disc disease), arm conditions (including carpal tunnel syndrome), and migraine headaches. The veteran's symptoms were not found to be related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of a left shoulder injury was granted at 10%, while his claim for a higher rating for renal calculi was denied.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of head trauma, low back injury, and right shoulder arthritis as the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including arthritis and arteriosclerotic heart disease. The claims were denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or chronic disability within one year post-service.

The veteran's appeal was denied as his claim for an increased rating for left shoulder disability was not supported by adequate evidence and he did not seek service connection for a separate left elbow disability.

The VA denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, lumbosacral spine disorder, right wrist disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, left shoulder disorder, headache disorder, and sinus disorder.,There is no evidence of any current disability related to the veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, traumatic dental disorder, eye disorder, hypertension, headaches, dizziness, and numbness in the arms and legs. The decision was based on the absence of competent evidence linking these disabilities to service.

The veteran's service connection claims for residuals of injury to the jaw including loss of teeth and dislocation of the left shoulder are being remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral shoulder disability is not service-connected, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The other issues regarding increased ratings were also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, reflex dystrophy of the left leg and foot, arthritis of the feet, and left hip disability. The appeals were based on direct evidence without any presumption or secondary relationship to prior conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bursitis of the right (major) shoulder and his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of cooperation with scheduled VA examinations.