Shoulder decisions — 2005

The veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disorder, residuals of shrapnel wounds to the shoulder and back, depression, and cancer were denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions or their relationship to service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability of the right shoulder or right arm associated with the veteran's military service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's right shoulder bursitis, effective from September 1969. The claim for an increased evaluation for left shoulder bursitis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine remains denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a right shoulder condition were denied as there is no competent medical evidence to support these claims.,There are no current diagnoses of PTSD or a right shoulder condition in the record, and the available evidence does not show any treatment related to these conditions during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left shoulder dislocation and post-traumatic arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support ratings higher than the current 20 percent disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disability is related to his period of active duty and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, back injury residuals, and right shoulder injury residuals were denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions. The Board also found that the arthritis in his back and right shoulder did not have its onset during service or within one year after separation.

The veteran's increased rating claims for his right shoulder and bicep muscle disabilities were denied as the highest schedular ratings are already assigned.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disorder, sinusitis and headaches, and bilateral defective hearing are all related to his service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted, and the RO must readjudicate all other claims. Additional development may be needed for some of these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various spine, shoulder, foot, and ankle disabilities. The appeals were based on direct evidence of these conditions without any presumption or secondary service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's left shoulder arthralgia does not warrant an increased evaluation beyond the current 20 percent rating.

The veteran's prostate cancer and asthma were not found to be related to herbicide agent exposure in service. Service connection for chronic bronchitis, arthritis of the cervical spine, arthritis of the lumbar spine, and arthritis of the shoulders was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and increased evaluation for left shoulder disability, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or other compensable conditions.

The veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability is appropriately rated at 20 percent, which reflects limitation of motion to shoulder level.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any arthritis in the veteran's right shoulder, right foot, and knees. The RO must ensure all notification and development action required by VCAA are fully complied with.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder pain, left wrist pain, right wrist pain, and muscle spasms throughout his body as manifestations of an undiagnosed illness resulting from service in the Persian Gulf War due to a lack of objective indications of disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, neck disorder, right and left shoulder disorders, bilateral hip disorders, bilateral knee disorders, low back disorder, and headaches. The decision found no current diagnosis of tinnitus attributable to military service.

The veteran's right ankle disability, cervical spine disorder, headaches, and bilateral shoulder disability were all granted service connection. The right ankle was increased to a 20% rating.