Shoulder decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that additional information and evidence are needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for service connection. Specifically, verification of all periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), a VA examination is required for bilateral knee disability and right shoulder disability, and proper VCAA notice must be provided.

The veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,Claims for loss of night vision, tendonitis, and joint pain were denied due to lack of medical evidence showing the presence or continuity of these conditions since service.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on functional impairment and lack of dislocation episodes.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a right shoulder disability, including residuals of a rotator cuff tear. The Board has determined that the case must be remanded to provide further development and examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, are denied. The medical evidence does not support the presence of chronic disabilities that meet the criteria for service connection under VA regulations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability decision documents. The case will be reviewed to determine the appropriate rating for his service-connected back condition and to adjudicate his TDIU claim.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied.,The RO found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen a claim of service connection for a low back disorder.

The veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral foot pain, right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal reflux disease, erectile dysfunction, chronic sinusitis, lipomatous lesion of the left shoulder, benign prostatic hypertrophy, tinnitus, depressive disorder, and hypertension, have been evaluated. The veteran does not meet the criteria for a combined 100 percent schedular rating under the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Therefore, his claim for permanent and total disability rating for VA non-service-connected pension purposes has been denied.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability does not result in loss of use of his left hand, and thus denied special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a hand.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia as a presumptive disability due to service in the Gulf War. Service connection was denied for back, neck, and right shoulder disabilities unrelated to fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to additional development being necessary, including obtaining records of private hospitalization for hypertension in 1979 and reviewing his file by a VA orthopedist.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his increased evaluation of shell fragment wound left shoulder, trapezius and supraspinatus muscles with impingement syndrome and post traumatic arthritis, acromioclavicular joint (minor) evaluated as 30 percent disabling was dismissed because the appeal is not timely filed.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with the right shoulder and TMJ disabilities receiving a higher rating from March 15, 2005. The right knee strain received a compensable rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right shoulder disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right elbow disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed cervical spine, back, right shoulder, and right hand disabilities are not service-connected.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic low back pain with degenerative joint disease, bilateral shoulder disability, right knee disability, right leg disability, and skin disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for VA examinations and compliance with duty-to-assist requirements.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions did not have their onset during service and are not related to his military service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any current disabilities related to his service-connected fractured nasal bone. For his lumbar spine, shoulder, and knee conditions, the evidence does not support a finding of in-service disease or injury. Therefore, these claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records related to the veteran's shoulder surgery and treatment. The appeal is now pending with the RO.