Shoulder decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral shoulder disability and that any such disability, if present, was first shown more than one year after service separation. The Board also found no evidence linking any current shoulder condition to an inservice injury or disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability related to his in-service complaints and therefore, service connection for mitral valve prolapse, left hamstring injury, right shoulder disability, left knee disability (including degenerative joint disease), thoracic scoliosis, or left great toe arthritis is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for allergic rhinitis, chronic asthma, and right shoulder injury are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board found that the veteran's right shoulder disability, primarily manifested by limited arm motion even with pain, did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left elbow fracture, ulnar neuropathy of the left arm and hand, and gunshot wound to the right shoulder are denied. The preponderance of evidence does not support an increase in disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of a left shoulder injury, degenerative changes of the cervical spine, and degenerative disc disease of the thoraco-lumbar spine.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and brachial plexopathy of the right shoulder are denied as there is no evidence showing that either condition warrants a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or service connection under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, foot fungus, nerve damage to the arm and shoulder, and lung and breathing problems. The decision also noted that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD.

The veteran sustained a left shoulder injury in May 2001 while hospitalized at a VA nursing home due to carelessness, negligence or similar instance of fault on the part of the VA. The Board has determined that this event was caused by the VA's furnishing of hospital care and thus meets the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his lower back disability, service connection for hypertension secondary to arthritis pain, and service connection for right knee and shoulder disabilities. The reasons are provided within the decision.

The Board found that the veteran's left shoulder disability was not incurred or aggravated during active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and his left shoulder disability is rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including low back, left shoulder, bilateral knee, wrist and hand, and foot disorders are denied as there is no evidence of current disability related to service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, low back disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, and memory loss due to the lack of current diagnoses related to these conditions. The veteran's service medical records were negative for complaints or diagnoses of any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a request for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to failure to obtain service medical records and other relevant documents.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been granted. Service connection was established for post-traumatic pain in the right knee, with a 10% evaluation effective June 2, 1992. Increased evaluations were granted for degenerative joint disease of the right knee (post-traumatic pain) and status post surgery, right shoulder (residual painful range of motion).

The Board has granted service connection for PFB and assigned a noncompensable initial evaluation for the right shoulder scar. The appellant's PFB is considered chronic and was first manifested during his active military service. For the right shoulder scars, the Board found them tender to palpation but did not find any limitation of function or soft tissue damage that would warrant a higher rating.