Shoulder decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disorder, including post-operative left shoulder dislocations and osteoarthritis. The pre-existing condition worsened during active duty military service, resulting in current disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current low back disorder is related to an injury he experienced while on active duty, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining verification of service periods and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature, severity, and etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current low back and right shoulder disabilities and his military service, thus denying service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities do not warrant ratings higher than 30 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability, finding that he does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5202.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding no in-service injury and insufficient medical evidence to link his current condition to service.

The veteran's cervical disc degeneration with cervical brachial neuralgia was granted service connection as it was found to be related to her November 1978 automobile accident.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating or additional service-connected disability.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral shoulder disability or any relationship between the veteran's service-connected knee disabilities and his shoulder disorders. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disorder, shoulder disorder, and loss of teeth as secondary to a service-connected bilateral mandibular fracture. The Board found that there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service, and thus could not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral defective hearing, but denied service connection for all other conditions due to lack of new and material evidence.