Shoulder decisions — 2008

The Board found no evidence of chronic depression during service and denied the claim for service connection. For right shoulder tendonitis, there was a single entry in service records indicating tenderness of the 'right' shoulder due to tendonitis in 1995 without recurrence. The veteran's current symptoms were not related to service. For left shoulder tendonitis, the same history was noted during retirement examination.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the veteran's right shoulder condition existed prior to service and was aggravated by service, thus granting service connection for residuals of right shoulder dislocation.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a head disability (to include headaches), low back disability, cervical spine disability, shoulder disability, and hearing loss. The reasons were not provided in the given text.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral shoulder disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to his service-connected spondylolisthesis. The examination report indicated that the veteran abruptly left the examination prior to evaluation, which prevented a determination of whether there was any connection between his current shoulder condition and service.

The Board granted a higher rating of 20 percent for the residuals of a gunshot wound to the right shoulder, finding that the disability is productive of mild limitation of abduction and flexion of the right arm with chronic pain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, neck disability, bilateral shoulder disabilities, residuals of face trauma, and bilateral eye disability. The evidence did not show a link between these conditions and her military service.

The veteran's degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine with left radiculitis is currently rated at 40 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.,The veteran's recurrent dislocation of the left shoulder with tendonitis and calcarea left subscapular muscle is currently rated at 40 percent, also without meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of multiple joints, finding that there was no evidence to support a secondary relationship between his service-connected low back disorder and these conditions. The effective date claim was also denied as the veteran did not provide new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current left shoulder disorder and finds no service connection is warranted. The claim of service connection for a right shoulder disorder will be remanded to obtain additional medical examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the veteran sustained a fracture of the left radius during service and has residuals from this injury. However, there is no evidence to support a current diagnosis or service connection for a left shoulder disability.

The veteran's left shoulder disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and to reopen his claim for right knee disability. The decision found no evidence of any injury or chronic disability during service, nor at present.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected left shoulder rotator cuff injury, right knee arthritis and flexion limitation, as well as reactive arthritis of the wrists and hands. The disability ratings were found not to meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeal for service connection for a left shoulder disability due to his failure to respond within one year to requests for additional evidence, as required by VA regulations.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence linking the veteran's current shoulder disorder to his service, including an in-service Jeep accident. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's low back strain is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any diagnostic code.,Tendonitis of the right shoulder and left shoulder are both currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and right leg disabilities, finding no new and material evidence to reopen them.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-operative residuals of the right shoulder warrant a rating of 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5201.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected impingement syndrome of the left shoulder. The right knee disability remains at a 10 percent rating.