Shoulder decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to inadequate review of his case and failure to consider relevant evidence. The veteran needs further examination for both cervical spine disability and right shoulder fracture with resection of distal clavicle.

The veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated, and the RO has denied his claims for increased ratings. The effective dates of service connection are also denied.

New and material evidence was received to reopen claims for service connection for DJD of the right shoulder and cervical spine. However, service connection remains denied as there is no medical relationship between these conditions and service.,Service connection for DJD of the right shoulder is not granted due to lack of a medical relationship with service. Service connection for DJD of the cervical spine secondary to the right shoulder is also denied.,The veteran's request to restore his previous 20 percent rating for left scapula fracture with DJD of the left shoulder was granted, effective August 1, 2005.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back and left shoulder disabilities due to a lack of diagnosed conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's left shoulder disorder is proximately due to his service-connected left knee TKA, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left shoulder condition can be decided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disorders do not warrant a higher rating, as they do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent for the residuals of recurrent left shoulder dislocations and 10 percent for the postoperative scar.

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 10 percent and later increased to 30 percent effective March 1, 2006. His right shoulder disability remained at a noncompensable rating until June 13, 2006, when it was assigned a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and further development is required.

The veteran's right shoulder bursitis was granted a 10% evaluation effective from April 19, 1997. The current 10% rating is maintained as the evidence does not support an earlier effective date or higher rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back pain, shoulder disorders, hip condition, knee and ankle issues, foot and toe joint problems, fatigue, and joint problems. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder condition was not incurred or aggravated by service, and arthritis of the right shoulder may not be presumed to have been so incurred. The claim for degenerative disease, left shoulder is being remanded.

The veteran's claims for right shoulder disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease were all denied. The VA determined that these conditions are not related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the service connection claims for various disorders, including right knee disorder, left knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, right foot numbness, low back pain, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board has determined that the veteran's Hepatitis C, hemangioma/epidermoid of the parietal skull, bilateral median nerve neuropathy and bilateral ulnar nerve neuropathy, and right shoulder dislocation are not attributable to his period of active service.

The Board found that the veteran's left shoulder disability was not incurred or aggravated during his honorable period of service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have residuals of a bilateral shoulder injury, back injury, leg numbness, neck disorder, or knee disorder etiologically related to active service. Therefore, his claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability has been manifested by some tenderness and pain, but no more than mild impairment. The evidence did not show ankylosis of scapulohumeral articulation, limitation of motion of arm at shoulder level, malunion of humerus with moderate deformity, or nonunion of clavicle or scapula with loose movement.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss disability and bilateral hip disorder. The decision also addressed a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.