Shoulder decisions — 2006

The veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including a rating for lumbosacral strain and hearing loss. The RO must review the additional evidence received since June 2003, consider the revised criteria for rating spine disorders and skin disorders, arrange for VA examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and shoulder conditions, both claimed as secondary to a service-connected back and hip condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, and left shoulder strain due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current objective disabilities of the right shoulder, right knee, or ankles related to service. As a result, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including notification of provisions regarding an extra-schedular evaluation and readjudication under those provisions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service records and a VA examination to determine the nature of current disabilities and their relation to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lapse of time since the last VA examination and because the July 2003 Board decision did not discuss whether increased ratings were warranted pursuant to DeLuca v. Brown, 8 Vet. App. 202 (1995).

The veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, and his residuals of left shoulder injury and cervical spine injury are each rated at 20 percent. These ratings are granted.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current right shoulder disorder to his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for the left shoulder disorder prior to January 23, 2001 and a 20 percent staged rating effective January 23, 2001.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the veteran's left shoulder disability. The claim of entitlement to a higher evaluation for asbestosis will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right shoulder scar, finding that there was no evidence of current symptoms or functional impairment warranting a higher evaluation.

The veteran's right shoulder surgery did not result in any additional disability.,There is no evidence of a right groin infection secondary to cardiac catheterization.,No additional disability was found as a result of the misdiagnosed basal cell carcinoma of the left lower eye lid.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any neurological disability of the face, esophagus and abdomen, legs, or neck, back, and shoulders. The preponderance of evidence is against her claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for compliance with a previous directive to first adjudicate the application to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disorder and then issue a supplemental statement of the case if the claim remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder, but denied service connection for bilateral ankle disorders.

The Board found that the appellant's additional disabilities, including sternal infection and pleural effusion, were not caused by VA negligence or carelessness. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and additional VCAA notice.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for the veteran's right shoulder dislocation, finding that his disability did not warrant an evaluation in excess of the assigned 10 percent.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right shoulder disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of current limitation on range of motion.