Shoulder decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected PTSD and shrapnel wound, left shoulder do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's adhesive capsulitis of the left shoulder is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and has granted service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board denied all claims for service connection and the veteran's appeal is dismissed.

The Board's decision denying an earlier effective date for a right shoulder disability rating was affirmed by the Veterans Court, and thus the Board does not have jurisdiction to review this motion.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including memory loss, bilateral hip and knee disabilities, elbow disability, and shoulder and thoracic spine disabilities, were denied as they are not considered to be due to undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current hearing loss or shoulder disorder for VA compensation purposes, and there is no evidence of a service connection relationship to her conditions. Therefore, her claims are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple joint pain and a respiratory condition as secondary to the veteran's service-connected lymphocytic lymphoma. The other claims of service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not incur cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, or left shoulder disabilities in service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss with history of left tympanoplasty, shoulder disability, big toe disability, and right Achilles tendon disability. The evidence did not show a continuity of symptoms or a link between any current disabilities and active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The claim will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral shoulder disorders are likely due to injuries sustained during his military service, and grants service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected right shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for a more recent VA examination and proper notice regarding effective dates.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of injury to the jaw including loss of teeth and dislocation of left shoulder due to a lack of medical evidence supporting these conditions.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and need for further examination.

The veteran's right shoulder disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The issue of secondary service connection for bilateral leg pain, claimed as secondary to service-connected flat feet, requires further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical records from the veteran's Merchant Marine service. The veteran is also to be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The veteran seeks increased evaluations for his service-connected partial tear of the left pectoral muscle and degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder. The RO has already granted a 20% evaluation effective July 5, 2006, but he still needs an examination to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board denied service connection for a left arm disability and a bilateral shoulder disability with impairment of arm function, finding no evidence to support the claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's impingement syndrome and degenerative changes in his left shoulder are not related to his service-connected residuals of a left wrist strain, or any other incident of service. The claim for secondary service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations based on either functional loss or limitation of motion.