Shoulder decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and arranging for a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected thoracic spine muscle injury, lumbar spine nerve injury, and right shoulder muscle injury were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral pes planus, right shoulder condition (including arthritis and arthralgia), left knee condition, right ankle condition, back disorder, left ankle condition, chalazion of the left eyelid, conjunctivitis, and kidney condition have all been denied. The veteran is seeking to reopen these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder impingement with SLAP lesion warrants a 20 percent evaluation, effective May 1, 2002. The evidence does not support an increase in disability rating beyond this level.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for post-operative residuals of the left shoulder injury effective September 29, 2005. The veteran's right knee condition is rated separately.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development due to inadequate examination and medical opinion.

The veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable ratings were denied. The right shoulder disability was rated as 10% prior to April 20, 2005, but not more than 10%. From April 20, 2005, the rating remained at 10%. Bilateral shin splints did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board found that the veteran's current disabilities of cervical arthritis were not incurred in service and are not causally or etiologically related to service. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Board hearing at the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder disability warrants a rating of 30 percent, reflecting limitation of motion to midway between side and shoulder level.

The Board denied service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Shrapnel Wounds to the Neck and Left Arm, and Arthritis of the Feet, Back, and Shoulders. The veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a nexus between his current conditions and military service.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's right shoulder disability, finding that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for the veteran's right shoulder disability, finding that his condition does not warrant a higher evaluation based on functional loss due to pain or other symptoms.

The Board is remanding the case for further development and consideration of various issues, including service connection claims and disability rating determinations.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of right shoulder injury and denied extension of the temporary total disability rating beyond August 31, 2003 due to lack of evidence supporting such an extension.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury, right shoulder injury, and right leg injury have been denied. The claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury was previously denied in September 1963 and no new and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the claim to reopen his antisocial personality disorder was also denied. The case is remanded for further action.

The veteran's appeal was granted for a left shoulder disability, left knee chondromalacia, and right knee chondromalacia with limitation of flexion. The rating board also assigned separate evaluations for the right knee chondromalacia due to limitation of extension from March 10, 2004. No new evidence was presented to reopen service connection claims.

The Board has granted a higher evaluation of 30 percent for the veteran's left shoulder disability and a 20 percent evaluation for her low back disability, effective April 1, 1998.