Shoulder decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder disability was incurred during his period of active military service.,However, there is no evidence to support a finding of a fallen arch in the veteran's right foot.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder, right ankle, stomach, and gastroesophageal disease disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed chronic right wrist, left wrist, and left shoulder disorders are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected undiagnosed illness that is most closely analogous to fibromyalgia is being remanded due to a discrepancy between the results of his September 2003 VA examination and his testimony at a RO hearing in September 2004.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder condition, acquired psychiatric disorders, bilateral bone spurs in heels, arthritis, and elbow/knee/neck conditions. The decision is based on the absence of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities resulting from his military service for numbness of the fingers, sleep apnea, hypertension, high cholesterol, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or arthritis of the shoulder.

The veteran's death was not service-connected, and the Board found that his service-connected conditions did not materially contribute to his cause of death. Therefore, burial benefits based on service-connected death are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any current bilateral shoulder, knee, or ankle disabilities that are related to service. Therefore, his claims for service connection in this regard are denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability is granted, effective April 25, 2000.

The Board found that the right shoulder disability existed prior to service and was not aggravated by active service, while cervical spine or neck and back disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a spinal disorder, but the claim remains denied.,Service connection for bilateral pes cavus with plantar fasciitis and degenerative joint disease of the right first metatarsophalangeal joint is denied as there is no compensable evaluation.

The Board found that the reduction in rating for the veteran's left shoulder disorder from 20% to 10% was proper, and denied entitlement to an increased evaluation for his right shoulder disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder and low back conditions are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the right shoulder and acne with actinic keratosis and scars, including as due to Agent Orange exposure. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for osteoarthritis of various joints and entitlement to TDIU due to incomplete evidence, including a lack of x-rays from his May 2004 VA examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition, back disorder, right shoulder disorder, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss were denied as there was no evidence of chronic conditions initially manifesting during his active service or ACDUTRA.

The veteran is granted separate compensable ratings for two gunshot wound scars of the axilla, and a 10 percent rating for a scar on the lateral aspect of the left upper arm. The veteran's hypertension, weakness of the left median nerve, and muscle injury residuals are not service connected.,The veteran does not meet the criteria for increased evaluations for his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder disability due to regional pain syndrome, but denied service connection for arthritis of the right hip.

The Board denied higher initial ratings for the veteran's right shoulder and right knee disorders, finding that the evidence did not support a rating beyond the current evaluations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed shoulder and elbow disabilities are not related to his active duty service, including an in-service electric shock accident. The VA examiner found no causal relationship between the in-service 'shock' and later onset of the conditions.