Shoulder decisions — 2005

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for a left shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including headaches, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Mallory-Weiss syndrome (claimed as ulcers), sinusitis, and residuals of pneumonia, were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The claims have been denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bronchitis, irritable bowel syndrome, restless leg syndrome, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, coronary artery disease, arthritis of the knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, and hands. The decision also denies service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disability, gynecological disability, bilateral foot and ankle disabilities, right shoulder and jaw disorders, chronic headaches, allergies, and hearing loss. The decision also addressed presumptive service connection claims based on undiagnosed illnesses.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's claims to reopen for service connection of left shoulder disorder, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the appellant's chronic residuals of in-service injuries to the shoulders, right knee, and left ankle are service-connected. Additionally, it is found that his preexisting bilateral foot disorder was aggravated by service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant a compensable evaluation for right leg thrombophlebitis, a 20 percent evaluation for residuals of a fracture of the distal third of the right fibula with mild malunion, and an increased evaluation is not warranted for residuals of a right shoulder sprain.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is service-connected, and his left shoulder disability has been granted at 30%. However, he continues to seek higher ratings for his left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board Hearing. The case will be returned to the Board if necessary.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any identifiable pathology of the right shoulder and therefore, service connection for a right shoulder disorder is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and status post left shoulder arthroscopy for multiple dislocations, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an appendix condition, gastrointestinal condition (to include ulcer and reflux disease), removal of the gall bladder, and right shoulder condition all claimed as due to radiation exposure. The evidence did not support a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee and right shoulder disabilities, as well as his tinnitus, are service-connected. However, there is no evidence of a current heart disability or bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C, headaches, a right shoulder disorder, a left foot condition, and a right knee disorder. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current lung problems are not related to his active service, and thus cannot be granted service connection. The right shoulder disability and psychiatric disorder claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted since June 1995, but the Board found no causal relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right shoulder, with retained foreign body and scar do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation beyond the current 10 percent rating.

The veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board found no current diagnosed back or left shoulder disorder and denied service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further review of additional evidence and for examinations related to his service-connected disabilities.