Shoulder decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical radiculopathy and to reopen her previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic cervical spine disability and residuals of a left shoulder fracture, previously claimed as fibromyalgia with trigger points on the upper shoulders, bilaterally, and upper back. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and left shoulder disorder, finding no evidence of current disabilities related to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to May 16, 2001 and a staged evaluation in excess of 20 percent from May 16, 2001.

The Board denied a claim for an increased rating for the veteran's right shoulder disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed disabilities, including residuals of a broken right toe, degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 with minimal vacuum phenomenon, posterior bulge disc, narrowing of the intervertebral foramen bilaterally and mild compression effect upon the thecal sac, and residuals of a right shoulder injury.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical examinations to determine if separate disabilities of the right shoulder exist and whether a higher evaluation is warranted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain VA treatment records. The issues on appeal include increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, as well as the issue of service connection for tinnitus.

The veteran's claims for increased initial evaluations for low back strain and right shoulder strain are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right thigh disorder, tinnitus related to service, or left shoulder disability. The veteran's jungle rot of both heels is also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left knee, and right shoulder disorders. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus disability underwent an increase in disability during active service, and therefore, service connection is granted for this condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO via the AMC for scheduling a hearing before a member of the Board at the RO. The claims file will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The appellant has withdrawn the appeal, thus it is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection and increased ratings for the veteran's bilateral knee, shoulder, low back, and cervical spine disabilities. The claims were found not well-grounded under then-prevailing legal authority.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, lumbosacral spine disability, and shoulder disability. The evidence did not support a direct relationship between these disabilities and the veteran's active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, and shoulder disabilities due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent from April 1, 1999 to July 8, 2001 and found no basis for a rating in excess of 40 percent from July 9, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for varicose veins of the right and left lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent or 10 percent, respectively.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing Social Security Administration records related to the veteran's cervical spine and right shoulder conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of his claims for PTSD and shoulder shell fragment wounds.