Shoulder decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to a request for a personal hearing before the Board.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's right shoulder and cervical spine conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions within one year of discharge from service, and none are otherwise etiologically related to service.,Therefore, service connection for tinnitus, chest bone disability, collar bone disability, bilateral foot disability, or bilateral shoulder disability is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including vision impairment, hypertension, headaches, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome with neurological dysfunction in the right wrist, respiratory disorder, skin disorders, and arthritis of the neck, shoulder, and thoracic spine. The decision also addressed claims to reopen previously denied low back disability, diabetes mellitus, psychiatric disability, and arthritis of the neck, shoulder, and thoracic spine claims.

The veteran's psoriatic arthritis is rated at 10 percent for each affected joint (knees, hands, ankles, and shoulders). The right hand disability, including psoriatic arthritis and residuals of ganglion cyst, does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for residuals of a right leg fracture, unhealed abrasion of the lower right leg, and left arm/shoulder disability are granted as secondary to service-connected conditions. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable ratings for his right shoulder disorder, right arm disorder, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, and onychomycosis. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The veteran's knee, hip, ankle, and foot disabilities are not service-connected. The Board denied the claims of service connection for left shoulder disability due to lack of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence, particularly records from Dr. Salinas at the Well Med Center.

The veteran's appeal is denied as his right shoulder disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, finding that his rheumatoid arthritis is inactive and not productive of any compensable disability. The other issues were also denied as there was no evidence of active rheumatoid arthritis or significant impairment in joints.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any currently diagnosed disabilities of the right or left shoulder, and her claims for service connection are denied. The Board also found no evidence to support a finding that she experienced in-service injuries leading to diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, GERD, or degenerative joint disease of the cervical or lumbar spine.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability. The Board has determined that an examination of the shoulders, including an opinion on the etiology of any current disability, is warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, a left shoulder disability, and a back disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred during active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed lower back, upper back, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral elbow disabilities are not related to service. The evidence does not show chronic disability in service or within one year of separation from service.

The Board found no objective indications of chronic disability resulting from undiagnosed illness and denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a musculoskeletal disability.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected right ulnar nerve disorder and found that a separate evaluation is not warranted for surgical scars. The Board also determined that there is no evidence to support a grant of service connection for the veteran's right shoulder disorder as it is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right ulnar nerve disorder.

The Board has granted increased ratings of 30 percent for recurrent dislocations of the right shoulder and 20 percent for recurrent dislocations of the left shoulder, effective July 17, 2002.

The veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and effective dates were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a grant of service connection or an increase in rating.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's residuals of a fracture of the right index finger, finding that it more nearly approximates the maximum schedular evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5229.