Shoulder decisions — 2005

The Board found that the veteran's complaints of pain in multiple joints, including left arm, shoulder, elbows, hands, fingers, and back, were not related to service or service-connected disabilities. The claim for increased rating for hypertension was also denied as there was no evidence of continuous medication necessary for control.

The Board found that a left shoulder disorder was not incurred in or aggravated during service and denied the veteran's claim.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to a total rating for compensation purposes based upon individual unemployability is being remanded due to incomplete notice and the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed low back, neck, and right shoulder disabilities are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disability, which existed prior to service, was aggravated by active duty. Therefore, service connection is granted.

The veteran's cause of death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the service-connected disabilities did not significantly contribute to his death.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The veteran's case is being remanded for further examination and clarification of the basis for the 20 percent evaluation.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining treatment records and conducting further examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred in service and is not secondary to a service-connected condition.,The Board has also determined that the veteran's left knee and left shoulder disorders were not incurred in service and are not secondary to any service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, migratory arthralgias of the shoulders, hands, and cervical spine, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The Board found that these conditions are not related to active duty service.

The Board finds that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disability and bilateral knee disability must be denied due to lack of competent medical evidence of current disabilities. The veteran's assertions alone cannot provide a basis for a grant of service connection.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's right shoulder disability is related to his time in service. The left shoulder arthritis was noted but no opinion on its etiology during service was provided.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected PTSD did not contribute substantially or materially to his death from hypertensive arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate medical examination and the need for additional development of his employment situation.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the ankles, knees, lumbar spine and shoulders as not related to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's claimed disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, and the initial rating for his right hand disability was denied.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for residuals of a right shoulder injury and PTSD, as well as his TDIU claim, were denied. The RO found that the current evaluations adequately reflected the severity of the disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia involving the lower extremities, right shoulder, and bilateral ankles as well as a left shoulder disorder. The evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, and increased evaluations for right knee degenerative arthritis and right shoulder scapula fracture with residual chronic right rhomboid muscle tendonitis were denied. The Board found that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations.