Shoulder decisions — 2006

The veteran's right shoulder disability is not rated higher than 10 percent due to the lack of evidence supporting ankylosis, joint instability, edema, weakness, effusion, abnormal motion, or guarding of movement. The pain in the shoulder does not warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the current severity of his right shoulder disability and hearing loss, as well as whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder condition, left knee and elbow conditions, right knee condition, upper back condition, left wrist condition, hemorrhoids, and asbestos exposure. The Board found that the current conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's claim for a total rating due to individual unemployability resulting from service-connected disabilities was granted, effective April 30, 1999. The decision is based on the veteran's service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities as well as his shoulder conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's postoperative residuals of rotator cuff repair, right shoulder do not warrant a rating greater than 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disorder is not related to his service-connected right shoulder disability, and therefore denied secondary service connection for a cervical spine disorder.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records review.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left shoulder disability is not related to his service-connected low back or knee disabilities, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for mechanical low back pain, hypertension, and right shoulder impingement syndrome were all denied. The Board found no evidence of underlying disabilities that would support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and compliance with VCAA requirements, including obtaining additional evidence and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a generalized skin disorder, other than tinea pedis. The claim for service connection on the merits was also denied. A disability rating greater than 10 percent for bilateral tinea pedis is not warranted.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder is not related to his service-connected bilateral knee derangement and therefore denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has granted increased disability ratings for the veteran's service-connected right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities, effective from September 17, 1998.

The Board finds that the veteran's injuries were not caused by VA treatment, and thus does not meet the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for wedging of the lumbosacral spine at L2, residuals of a sacroiliac injury, migraine headaches, residuals of left shoulder injury, residuals of left knee injury, and left hip disability. The claims were denied on the merits.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of arthritis of the lumbar spine, residuals of a left arm or left forearm injury, and a left shoulder disability that is related to his period of active service. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of a bilateral shoulder condition. The claims for service connection of type II diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, and hypertension have been denied as these conditions are not related to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder strain warrants a 10 percent evaluation, effective October 1, 1979.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not shown to have been present in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for PTSD, chronic rotator cuff impingement and tendonitis, chronic rotator cuff tear, and post-traumatic degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, as well as dermatophytosis with tinea pedis and tinea manus.