Shoulder decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to service connection and reopening of a PTSD claim, as well as hearing loss.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right ring finger injury, including radiating pain to the hand and shoulder. The case is remanded for further development.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining medical records and an examination.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, but denied it on the merits. The claim for service connection for an irregular heart beat was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities warrant a 20 percent evaluation effective July 11, 2005. The initial evaluations prior to this date were found not to meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder impingement bursitis and an initial evaluation of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, effective from April 18, 2005.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including headaches, traumatic brain injury (TBI), a psychiatric disability to include PTSD, bilateral shoulder disability, lumbar strain, and cervical strain. The decision also denied his request for an increased rating for tinnitus.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service-connected disabilities of the right shoulder, cervical spine, and left hip. The veteran argued that he filed a claim shortly after leaving military service in June 1990 but was not given credit for this filing due to administrative regularity.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, multiple skin keloids over the chest and left shoulder, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have all been denied as not warranting any increased evaluations from September 1, 2003.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities due to his withdrawal of these issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for multiple joint arthritis, PUD, and Scheuermann's disease. The claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence showing the veteran currently has a right knee, left knee or right shoulder disability. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left shoulder bursitis is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of evidence.

Service connection is denied for all claimed conditions as there is insufficient medical evidence linking any current disability to active duty service or post-service treatment.

The veteran's current neck disability is etiologically related to her active duty service, and the Board finds that she incurred a neck disability in active duty service. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post operative residuals of a back disorder, left shoulder disability, tinnitus, and residuals of right perforated tympanic membrane. The veteran is seeking higher ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disability, arthritis of hands, wrists, ankles, and feet, and high cholesterol were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,Service connection for residuals of shrapnel wounds to the right shoulder disability is granted based on a combat injury during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and determining whether the veteran engaged in combat with the enemy at the time of his reported right shoulder injury. The original claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder will be reconsidered based on all pertinent evidence.

The Board denied the claim for an effective date prior to July 2, 2001 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that the veteran's service-connected conditions prevented him from securing or following some form of substantially gainful employment within one year before July 2, 2001.