Shoulder decisions — 2007

The veteran's folliculitis and hidradenitis of the head and shoulders are currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a travel board hearing.

The Board has reopened and granted the claims for service connection for a disability due to shin splints, but denied reopening of the claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability.,Service connection was established for a disability due to shin splints. The veteran's current knee disability is considered related to his service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder and neck disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing left shoulder disorder was not aggravated by his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder disorder, diagnosed as a rotator cuff tear, is etiologically related to his service-connected left thumb disability and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's right shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent since October 14, 2004. The Board found that his symptoms of tingling and numbness in the right hand and arm are related to service-connected disabilities, while his stomach disorder is secondary to medications for his shoulder condition.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of loss of use of extremities, blindness, or anatomical loss of hands.

The Board has determined that the veteran's full severance pay, including the amount before taxes, in the full amount of $26,756.49, were subject to recoupment by the withholding of his compensation benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for vertigo and associated dizziness, which is considered a form of inner ear disorder. The veteran's other claims related to the inner ear and dizziness are still pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right shoulder disorder or sinusitis that is related to his service. The claims for service connection are denied.

The veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, and left knee disabilities are rated at the maximum allowed under current criteria. The right ankle disability is assigned a non-compensable rating. Service connection for right shoulder and right knee disabilities has been denied.

The Board has restored the veteran's previously assigned 30 percent disability rating for his service-connected recurrent left shoulder dislocation with traumatic arthritis, effective as of March 1, 2001.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the veteran's current right shoulder and low back conditions. The claims of entitlement to an initial evaluation greater than 20 percent for status post right shoulder reconstructive surgery from December 1, 2003, and service connection for a chronic low back disability are pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as his claim for residuals of smoking. The decision also noted that discontinuance of the vocational rehabilitation program was warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence to determine if the veteran's current conditions are related to service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, PTSD, and a right shoulder disability. The effective date of service connection for PTSD was set at March 7, 2002.

The veteran's biceps tendonitis of the left shoulder was granted service connection, but a higher rating is denied. The knee condition also received service connection with an initial 10 percent rating.,For the period prior to January 18, 2006, the veteran's biceps tendonitis resulted in limited motion (70 degrees flexion and 40 degrees abduction). A staged increase to 20 percent was granted starting from January 18, 2006.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the shoulders, knees, and right first metatarsophalangeal and right first metacarpophalangeal joints due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.