Shoulder decisions — 2005

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, left shoulder, and right knee disorders due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his lumbosacral strain and right shoulder injury residuals with degenerative joint disease are being remanded to the RO for further action.

The Board has determined that the veteran's upper and lower back, bilateral shoulder, bilateral leg, right hip, and right knee conditions are not attributable to service or any presumptive exposure basis. The VA examiners have opined that these conditions are more likely due to post-service injuries, including a motor vehicle accident in 1996.

The veteran's claim for increased rating of left hip fracture was granted, with a 10% disability rating effective August 30, 2001. The claims for service connection of right shoulder disorder and psychiatric disorder were reopened on new evidence, but no specific decision was made regarding these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for low back disability, hypertension, left hand disability, right hand disability, right foot disability, and left foot disability. The only condition found was a current diagnosis of GERD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back and left shoulder disorders are not related to service, but his current left knee injury with traumatic arthritis and chronic strain of the right knee are found to be at least as likely as not (50% likelihood or greater) related to service. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records, particularly those from the Naval Hospital at Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's post-operative residuals of recurrent dislocations of the left shoulder, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for impingement syndrome of the right and left shoulders with AC arthritis are denied as there is no evidence showing that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of his disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes and her tinnitus is not service-connected. The other conditions listed in the issues section are either not supported by evidence or were resolved prior to separation from service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left shoulder injury and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding no evidence linking these conditions to military service. The claim for PTSD was also denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and considering staged ratings.

The VA determined that the veteran's current left shoulder rotator cuff tear and subacromial impingement did not result from VA treatment, and therefore denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a left foot disorder, finding that the veteran's current conditions are at least as likely related to his military service.,For arthritis of the hands, the Board found no evidence of compensable limitation of motion or X-ray findings indicating involvement of two or more major or minor joints. Therefore, an initial noncompensable rating is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder, finding that the veteran's current degenerative joint disease is likely due to an injury sustained during his military service.,Service connection was denied for residuals of right arm lacerations. The Board found no evidence linking these residuals to the veteran's military service.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the rating decisions for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left shoulder. The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, which is within the range allowed by law.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for asthma, and an initial compensable evaluation for tinea pedis. The VA examiner found no current diagnosis of a right shoulder disability. For asthma, the criteria were not met for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent. For tinea pedis, the veteran was granted a 10 percent rating effective from August 30, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a urethral stricture due to VA treatment in June 1999, and assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied all service connection claims for bilateral shoulder, neck, ankle, and knee disabilities as the evidence did not show current disabilities or a link to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral shoulder disability, left forearm disability, right elbow disability, stomach disability, and multiple sclerosis, were not incurred or aggravated during his period of active service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology after service.