Shoulder decisions — 2006

The veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, shoulder/arm disorder, forearm scars (shrapnel wounds), and degenerative arthritis of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine were all denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and increased the evaluation of the right shoulder disability to 30 percent. The evaluations for traumatic neuritis of the ulnar nerves remain unchanged.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 30 percent for the veteran's hypertensive heart disease, effective from the date of the decision.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including those due to an undiagnosed illness, were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between any of these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a left eye condition, left shoulder condition, or chronic back pain that is service-connected. The evidence does not support direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of left shoulder injury, subluxation of sternoclavicular joint and is granting it. The issue of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for varicose veins is dismissed.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left shoulder arthritis, as well as his right and left hand arthritis, were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling issue for her Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, tendonitis of the left shoulder, and weight problems remain pending.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeals for the issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the residuals of a right shoulder rotator cuff repair and entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for sciatica of the left lower extremity. The issue of service connection for the residuals of a left shoulder injury is referred back to the RO for further action.

The veteran's left shoulder disability was initially rated at 30 percent prior to January 15, 2004. After undergoing a left shoulder replacement in January 2004, he received a 100 percent evaluation for one year and then a 30 percent rating since March 1, 2005.,The veteran's post-operative left shoulder disability is now rated at 60 percent since March 1, 2005. The higher rating reflects significant weakness and continued slight pain in the affected extremity.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his cervical strain and right shoulder disorders were granted, with a 20 percent rating assigned for the right shoulder disorder from November 26, 2002 to January 12, 2005. The cervical strain was rated at 10 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service for the veteran's bilateral shoulder, left knee, and low back disorders. The claims were denied.

The case is being remanded for additional development due to the veteran's recent left shoulder surgery. The claim will be re-adjudicated after the requested development has been completed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder strain does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury, chest pain initially claimed as a heart condition, and diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left shoulder, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service medical records and outstanding private medical records. The veteran's claims for service connection on appeal are not yet decided.

The veteran's low back disability is manifested by severe disc disease and neurological findings including sciatic neuropathy, warranting a higher initial rating of 60 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for intermittent labyrinthitis and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for a tic of the left shoulder, left arm, and left leg (claimed as due to a concussion).

The Board has granted service connection for a head scar. The veteran's left shoulder disability and bilateral shin splints are denied as there is no current disability found.