Shoulder decisions — 2006

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and back disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back, right knee, right forearm, and left shoulder disabilities are related to his active duty service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to the need for further development of evidence. The specific issues include a request for higher initial rating for facial scar, reopening of service connection claims for left shoulder and low back conditions, as well as other knee and leg conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The RO increased the rating for the right knee disability to 10 percent effective June 1, 2001. The initial ratings for all three conditions remain at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, heart disorder, right shoulder disability, and arthritis have been denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of the left shoulder, and his degenerative joint disease of the knees is not related to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury and residuals of a left shoulder injury, as well as his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD. The evidence does not support granting any of these claims.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for shrapnel injuries to his right shoulder and wrist were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of more than moderate disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic bronchitis, lung disability other than bronchitis (presumably due to asbestos exposure), left elbow sprain, and residuals of right and left shoulder sprains. The Board found that these conditions were not related to his military service or any incident therein.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board due to lack of evidence linking any claimed conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for his left ankle disorder, residuals of left shoulder surgery with degenerative changes, myositis of the lumbosacral spine, and right knee degenerative joint disease and patellofemoral syndrome. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disability warrants a 30 percent rating, which is the highest available under Diagnostic Code 5201.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, right hip, nerve damage to the left arm and shoulder, and nerve damage to the left foot are denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking any current disabilities to his active service or a service-connected condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the status post salpingostomy disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, and right elbow disabilities, including as secondary to his service-connected low back disability. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection based on direct service connection or secondary service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the residuals of left neck radical dissection, nerve damage in the left neck area, and residuals of surgery in the left shoulder area do not warrant evaluations higher than those currently assigned. The claim for a compensable evaluation for tonsillectomy was also denied. Sleep apnea is rated at 30 percent since service discharge.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right arm and shoulder condition, to include as secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee and left shoulder disabilities are service-connected, but his right foot/ankle disability is not.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to clarify which muscle group or groups are involved and fully document the functional impairment attributable to the service-connected disability.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not impair his ability to prepare for, obtain, or retain employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests. Therefore, he does not have an employment handicap.