Shoulder decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have verified current disabilities of shoulder, neck, back or left knee for which service connection can be granted.

The RO granted service connection for traumatic arthritis of the right shoulder and assigned a 30 percent rating effective March 14, 2007.

The Board denied service connection for a pulmonary disorder (including emphysema), gastrointestinal disorder (including gastroenteritis), sleep apnea, hepatitis C, and residuals of a right elbow laceration and right hip, shoulder, and back abrasions. The evidence did not support the veteran's claims as there was no chronicity in service or post-service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records, including those from the Manhattan VAMC. The case will be returned to the Board for further consideration.

The Board denied a higher initial evaluation for the veteran's service-connected left shoulder trapezius strain, assigning a 10 percent disability rating effective from April 2003 to July 19, 2007 and 20 percent thereafter.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his substantive appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability. The Board also found that the veteran's pre-existing right shoulder injury may have been aggravated by his military service, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder condition, including impingement and history of elastofibroma, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The cervical spine disc herniation was also not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examination. The veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for chronic left shoulder, cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, and bilateral foot disorders were denied as there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a skin disability of the feet (claimed as jungle rot), a bilateral shoulder disorder, a neck disorder, and a back disorder have all been denied. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Multiple Sclerosis and a Left Shoulder Disability, finding that there is insufficient evidence to establish these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder tendonitis, finding no relationship between current left shoulder tendonitis and service. The right shoulder bursitis claim was also denied as new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen it.,Regarding tinnitus, the effective date of service connection was denied because there is no evidence indicating a prior claim before September 2003.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further action due to new evidence and need for a medical examination.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder and granted service connection at a 10 percent disability rating for a right shoulder disorder, effective from June 24, 2001. The RO then increased the disability rating to 20 percent for the right shoulder disorder since April 2, 2002.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to address the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder injury with brachial plexopathy and bulging disc of the lumbar spine and stenosis. The AOJ is required to schedule this examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed chronic neck, back, left upper extremity (left shoulder and arm), and cardiovascular disorders were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for basal cell carcinoma and did not grant an increased rating for the left shoulder disability. The veteran's skin cancer was not related to his service, including sun exposure or herbicide exposure. His left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected, and thus denied all of his claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for anemia, a bilateral eye condition, and left and right shoulder disorders, all claimed as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The examiner found no evidence of any other diagnosed eye disorder or shoulder disorder in addition to diabetic retinopathy.