Shoulder decisions — 2005

The veteran's initial increased disability ratings for her service-connected cervical strain with right shoulder involvement and chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease secondary to trauma have been denied.,Her PTSD has also been denied an increased rating.

The Board has granted service connection for peroneal tendinitis of the right leg, capsulitis and tendinitis of the left shoulder, myositis of the lumbar spine, internal derangement of the left knee, and arthritis of the left knee. The veteran's claims for increased initial ratings have been granted with a 40 percent rating for myositis of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a fungus infection of the feet and an increased rating for his gunshot wound scar of the left shoulder. The claim for a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 10 percent rating for the gunshot wound scar.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral arm and shoulder disorder is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's right shoulder gunshot wound residuals, as they did not meet the criteria for a higher disability evaluation.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The status of the PTSD claim is unknown.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disorder was incurred during service and granted service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a disorder of the neck and spine, finding no evidence linking his current condition to his service-connected jaw disability.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the veteran's right shoulder scar and benign tumor of the right eye to service, including any potential radiation exposure. The conditions are not considered presumptive or radiogenic diseases.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected shrapnel wound to the left shoulder was denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for evaluations in excess of 10 percent for rheumatoid arthritis of his left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee. The current evaluation of 20 percent is considered appropriate based on the residual functional limitations.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left shoulder disorder is denied as the evidence does not support a higher disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, except for a finding that his skin cancer may be related to exposure to herbicides in service. The other conditions were not found to be incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disability, degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the right knee, DJD of the right shoulder, status-post rotator cuff repair, and an adjustment disorder. The veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The RO granted service connection for tinea corporis and assigned an initial noncompensable evaluation, which was later increased to 10 percent effective October 14, 2000. The other issues remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations to determine the etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural and evidentiary deficiencies, including a need for further examination of the veteran's PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to a failure by the RO to make another request to NPRC for the appellant's clinical records when he was part of the 84th Engineer Battalion in Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating above 20 percent for his right shoulder disability has been denied. The current rating of 20 percent, effective from November 2, 1994 (the date of service connection), is maintained.