Shoulder decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of the claims, including addressing whether there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the veteran's claimed disabilities existed prior to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, and degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the veteran's swelling of the hands, arms, and shoulders is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service or radiation exposure. The condition was attributed to rheumatoid arthritis, which is not a presumptively related condition under VA regulations.

The Board has found that the veteran's right shoulder disorder relates to service and granted service connection for it.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left shoulder arthritis or DJD of the cervical spine, and obesity, allergic rhinitis, or hemorrhoids. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder disability was not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims, including scheduling a hearing before the Board.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right shoulder disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a rating greater than 20 percent prior to October 15, 2003 and 30 percent from that date forward.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, left shoulder dislocation, tinnitus, and hearing loss were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the relationship between any current right shoulder disability and symptoms treated in service. The case is therefore REMANDED for further action.

The veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability has been previously denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing the veteran with appropriate notice.

The Board has denied the veteran's attempts to reopen his claims for service connection for low back, left shoulder, and right hip disabilities due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's back disorder, right ankle disorder, left wrist disorder, and bilateral shoulder disorder are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

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

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder, lumbar strain, left foot/ankle disability, right knee disability, and left shoulder disability. The veteran's claim for increased rating was also denied.

The veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for her service-connected right knee and shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess current severity.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, arthritis of the left shoulder, and bilateral foot disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic skin disorder related to the veteran's military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no in-service injury or disease of the knees, and denied service connection for bilateral knee disorders. The veteran's right shoulder disorder is related to service, but there was insufficient evidence to establish a current disability or link between his current psychiatric condition and service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing VCAA-compliant notice regarding the reopening of his low back disability claim.