Shoulder decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated during service and did not develop as a result of an established event, injury, or disease. The claims for service connection were denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VCAA compliance and a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right shoulder disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder condition as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a left shoulder injury due to lack of competent medical evidence linking the current right shoulder condition to his service-connected disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues of service connection and increased rating are pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his numbness of the right arm claim. The low back disability was rated at 40 percent, with no higher rating possible under current criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his cervical spine disability was timely filed. The current evaluation of 20 percent is found to be appropriate based on moderate limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for further development due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board has granted service connection for a disability of the left forearm, manifested by a scar and weakness. Service connection was denied for cervical spine, left shoulder, and headaches.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as no information provided since the 1997 decision relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the veteran's claim.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a schedular rating in excess of 40 percent for his right shoulder injury and entitlement to an extraschedular rating, as well as denial of temporary total ratings based on physical therapy treatment. The appeal is REMANDED.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, finding no current disability or evidence of a nexus between his in-service incidents and present conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the merits of the veteran's claim for service connection for recurrent melanoma, right shoulder, with various areas of actinic keratosis and non-melanoma skin cancer.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a right and left shoulder disability. The Board also found that there is no current diagnosis of hypertension.,Service connection was not granted because the veteran did not provide medical evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder and back disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and an increased rating for his left shoulder disorder. The decision also found that the April and December 1975 rating decisions were not the result of clear and unmistakable error.

The Board found that the veteran's neck and left shoulder disabilities were not related to service or a service-connected condition, leading to denial of these claims. The lumbosacral strain evaluation was remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a shoulder disability. The Board also found that the veteran's bilateral shoulder impingement syndrome and left distal clavicle excision and acromioplasty are attributable to active military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. His diabetes mellitus was not found to be related to his Vietnam service or herbicide exposure, and he did not have a current diagnosis of nosebleeds. The Board also denied the claim for an initial compensable rating for pilonidal cysts with resultant surgical scars.

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder was granted service connection effective November 18, 2002. The right shoulder tendonitis and impingement syndrome were granted service connection effective January 15, 2003.,The veteran is entitled to a higher initial evaluation for his generalized anxiety disorder from December 11, 2002 to January 24, 2005. He is not entitled to an increased rating after that date.