Shoulder decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of arthritis or other conditions claimed, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these issues. The claims are denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board. The Board found no evidence of a seizure disorder, degenerative joint disease of the spine, hypertension, skin disorder, eye disorder, organic brain syndrome, PTSD, hypothyroidism, hyperuricism, or disorders of the shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, hands, fingers, hips, legs, thighs, knees, ankles, feet, and toes that were incurred in service. The veteran is already receiving a 10% rating for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a left shoulder disability that is attributable to his active military service.

The Board found no evidence of current disability for the right shoulder disorder, COPD, arthritis of the hands, and arthritis of the right knee. The veteran's claims were denied as there was insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between these conditions and his service.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed left knee, shoulder, wrist, and low back disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The diagnoses are considered to be related to post-service activities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and hypertension, but granted service connection for a seizure/syncopal disorder. The initial rating for the right knee disorder remains denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and proper VCAA notification.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 40 percent for a left shoulder disability and for effective dates earlier than July 23, 1999 for service connection of his left shoulder disability and TDIU.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the rating decisions of July 1972 and August 1972 that assigned a 20 percent evaluation for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left shoulder.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's postoperative left shoulder disability and assigned a 10 percent rating, effective from August 29, 2002.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete service medical records and the need for proper VCAA notice.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, tinea pedis, and testicular disorder. The claims for skin disorder, low back disability, right shoulder disability, and ear wax build-up have been reopened but not granted.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a heart condition or right shoulder disability as a result of his service. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, residuals of a right wrist ganglion, and gastrointestinal disability were denied. The claim for an increased rating from 20 percent for left shoulder impingement syndrome was granted with a current effective date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right shoulder condition does not warrant a higher than 20 percent rating. Additionally, there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for any back disability (other than cervical myositis).

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus aggravated his hypertensive arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease and arthritis of the hands, knees, and right shoulder. As such, these conditions are granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the veteran did not have current diagnoses of right and left shoulder conditions, right and left leg and foot conditions, depression or PTSD. The VA examiner concluded that the veteran's hearing loss occurred following his military service. The Board also determined that there was no evidence linking the veteran's degenerative joint disease to his active duty service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a hearing, and the RO in Montgomery, Alabama will schedule a new hearing at their local VA office.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disability in service or related to a service-connected condition, resulting in denial of service connection. Increased ratings were granted for the left shoulder and post-traumatic arthritis of the left knee but not for internal derangement of the left knee.

The Board has determined that the veteran's headaches are service-connected, but his athlete's foot, left hip disorder, and neck/shoulder spasms are not. The evidence is in relative equipoise for the headache claim.