Shoulder decisions — 2005

The Board found that the veteran's current disorders of wrists, elbows, and shoulders are not related to his service-connected knee/hip/back disabilities. The claims for direct service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the residuals of a recurrent left shoulder dislocation are the result of injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus grants the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right middle finger disorder, mild neuropathy of the right extensor hood, and right shoulder disorder are already rated at their maximum allowable levels under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has granted a 40% evaluation for the veteran's right shoulder disability, effective from when it was last rated (not specified in the decision).

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral leg, knee, and left shoulder disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's right elbow disability was not incurred in or aggravated during active military service and arthritis may not be presumed. The claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right shoulder disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for orthopedic residuals of a left shoulder injury and increased disability ratings for the veteran's service-connected scars. The veteran is not entitled to additional compensation based on his service-connected abrasions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability and right thigh disability, finding no competent medical evidence of current disabilities. The RO did not provide a separate rating for lumbar strain as requested.

The veteran's residuals of dislocation of right shoulder have been rated as 10 percent disabling for the period from March 12, 2001 through April 20, 2003. Since April 21, 2003, he has been rated at 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left shoulder disorders, finding that the veteran's current shoulder problems are etiologically related to his active duty service. Service connection was denied for a cervical spine disorder.

The RO granted a 30 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected right shoulder impingement syndrome with effective date of March 7, 2002. The claim was not reopened as it pertained to an increase in rating rather than initial service connection.

The veteran's appeal is for higher initial ratings for several service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension with cardiomegaly, and left shoulder impingement syndrome. The RO has denied these claims.,The veteran's most recent VA evaluations were conducted in December 1998 and January 1999.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses for dental treatment and surgeries at the UAB School of Dentistry between August 2001 and May 2002 is denied because the care was not rendered in a medical emergency that would have been hazardous to his life or health.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore service connection cannot be granted for any of them.

The Board has denied all service connection claims as there is no evidence of current disabilities related to active duty.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain German hospital records and a VA examination for allergic rhinitis. The veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The VA is remanding the case to obtain a comprehensive VA orthopedic examination and determine if the veteran's bilateral shoulder condition had its onset during active service or is related to any inservice disease or injury.

The VA denied an increased disability evaluation for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a shrapnel wound injury to the left shoulder with retained foreign body, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, asserting that they are not related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus with mild heel valgus and bilateral hallux valgus. The total disability rating based on individual unemployability claim was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and left shoulder impingement syndrome on a secondary basis to the veteran's service-connected herniation of C6-7 status post partial discectomy. The veteran is also entitled to separate ratings for his left shoulder condition.