Shoulder decisions — 2006

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral shoulder disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as there is no medical evidence showing a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The veteran's left shoulder disorder is manifested by pain and limited range of motion, with flexion to 25 degrees and abduction to 25 degrees. The VA has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left shoulder disability, including a rotator cuff tear with degenerative changes, is as likely as not due to an injury sustained during service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's requests for increased ratings for his right (dominant) shoulder strain and cervical spine strain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional proceedings due to potential loss of service records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left ulnar palsy and left shoulder impingement do not warrant an increased evaluation in excess of their current ratings.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, left arm, and neck disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking any in-service symptoms to current disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to service, and the left shoulder disorder was not linked to service. The veteran's currently manifested conditions are attributed to his post-service employment.

The Board found no evidence of active Lyme's disease or current degenerative joint disease, and denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the shoulders, cervical spine, and lumbar spine due to new evidence submitted since the August 2001 denial. The Board found that the current diagnoses are not related to military service.

The Board has determined that service connection for a rash on the hands and armpits (diagnosed as psoriasis vulgaris) is not warranted, and the veteran's multiple joint pains of the neck, shoulders, and hands were also not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome and back condition, but denied the remaining issues.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints, including arthritis of her hands. The VA examiner could not provide a definitive etiological relationship between any diagnosed conditions and military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with a 20 percent rating assigned for left shoulder pain and crepitation due to undiagnosed illness effective March 13, 2006. The other issues remain in controversy.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The RO granted a 10 percent evaluation for cluster headaches and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, but did not grant any additional evaluations or establish service connection for other conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for Crohn's disease, chronic left knee strain, migraine headaches, and left shoulder pain were denied. The conditions are rated based on their direct effects rather than any service connection theory.

The veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his right shoulder disability was dismissed due to the death of the appellant while the case was pending before the Board.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA joints examination. The veteran's claim is currently in a state of pending appeal.

The Board has determined that there is no separate disability of the left upper extremity, and that any neuropathy associated with a cervical spine condition is not related to the service-connected left shoulder disability. Therefore, service connection for a separate disability of the left upper extremity is denied.