Shoulder decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the appellant's right shoulder degenerative joint disease is service-connected, but his left knee and back conditions are not.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's shell fragment wound of the left shoulder and skin disorder (rash and dermatitis of the hands). The decision concluded that there was no relationship between these conditions and his military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and original ratings for his service-connected left shoulder injury, thoracic outlet syndrome, and spasms of the left trapezius muscle. The effective dates for these service connection determinations were not established.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral defective hearing and residuals of injury to the right shoulder, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and found that it began during active duty. The claim for bilateral knee disability was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted, and the denial remains final. The claim for left shoulder disability was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Board determined that sinusitis did not begin in or is aggravated by service, and therefore denied service connection. Headaches were similarly found not incurred or aggravated during service.

The veteran's appendectomy scar is service-connected, but his chronic skin rash and bilateral epididymitis are not. The right shoulder keloid formation is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and readjudicating the claims based on all evidence of record.

The VA denied an increased disability rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left shoulder, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's left shoulder disorder, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a personality disorder and a right shoulder disorder. However, additional development is needed to address these claims due to the need for VA examinations and verification of stressors related to PTSD.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for bipolar disorder and left shoulder disability, but these issues are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The veteran's right shoulder disorder is not service-connected, but his phobic reaction and panic disorder are granted a higher rating effective from August 4, 1996.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury, left knee injury, and lumbosacral strain due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities or a link between service and these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, shoulder, and pelvis conditions as secondary to his service-connected low back and bilateral knee disabilities. The evidence did not support a current disability in any of these areas.

The veteran's Raynaud's syndrome, a disability related to cold exposure during service, was granted as service-connected. The other issues remain pending.

The Board has granted the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability and determined that he is eligible for nonservice-connected pension.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and ensuring compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current right shoulder, arm, knee, hip, or neck disorders.