Shoulder decisions — 2007

The Board denied service connection for presbyopia with astigmatism, hypertension, heart condition, back condition, rib injury, and right shoulder injury. The skin disorder claim is pending as the RO has not yet issued a statement of the case.

The veteran's neck disability and associated shoulder and upper back pain are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, residuals of a left shoulder injury to include a rotator cuff tear, and residuals of a low back injury due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to errors in duty to assist and duty to obtain evidence.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition of the neck, shoulders and back was denied as there is no evidence of current disability or a nexus to service.

The veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, and his left shoulder disability is rated as 20 percent disabling.,Both shoulders have been surgically repaired for recurrent dislocation.

The VA has determined that the veteran's right shoulder disability, which is a shell fragment wound, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disorder existed prior to service and was improved by treatment in service, resulting in no current disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence showing the veteran has any current left ear hearing loss, left knee condition, tinnitus, left hip condition, or left shoulder and arm condition that are related to service. Therefore, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disability was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to a service-connected condition. As such, the claim for service connection on any basis is denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted to support the claim.

The veteran is service-connected for multiple disabilities, including a right shoulder disability rated at 40 percent disabling. The combined rating of his service-connected disabilities is 90 percent, meeting the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of issues related to service connection for left leg injury residuals, a left shoulder disorder, and a left knee disorder. The effective date earlier than November 17, 1998, for a 10 percent rating for a left thigh cyst removal residual scar is not addressed in the decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and a left shoulder disorder, including recurrent subluxation. The decision found that any pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by service.

The veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, nervous condition (mental health), organic brain syndrome and dementia, and left shoulder disability were all denied. The VA examiner concluded that the current conditions are not related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA clinical records and providing an addendum to the December 2005 examination opinion. The issues of service connection for a right shoulder disorder and increased rating for anxiety disorder with headaches are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's preexisting right shoulder disorder that worsened during his military service, but denied claims for a right arm and neck disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are denied. The VA examinations will be scheduled to address his hypertension, right knee disability, and bilateral foot disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection for depression and organic brain syndrome (initially claimed as memory loss) were denied. The RO also declined to reopen a claim for myositis of the neck, obesity/pluriglandular syndrome, adhesive capsulitis of the shoulders, disabilities of the hips, elbows and knees, nosebleeds, low grade fevers, fatigue, skin sores, bleeding gums, or joint pain in the hips, elbows and knees. The veteran's claims for service connection for sore neck (claimed as due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability) were also denied.,The RO did not find new and material evidence to reopen any of the previously denied claims.

The VA has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the residuals of fracture left elbow (minor) since August 23, 2002. The veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a left shoulder injury and back disorder are pending.