Shoulder decisions — 2008

The Board found that the veteran's current conditions, including bilateral foot disorder, back disorder, right shoulder disorder, and chest pain, are not related to his military service. The veteran's pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right shoulder disability associated with his active military duty and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of a right shoulder disability claim were denied. The back disability remains rated at 20 percent, the left ring finger amputation continues to be non-compensably disabling, and service connection for the right shoulder disability is granted but not reopened.

The Board found that the veteran's current right shoulder disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's increased ratings claims for his service-connected left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current conditions of arthritis in both feet and residuals of a left shoulder injury with arthritis are not related to his time in service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The veteran's service-connected chronic recurrent right and left shoulder dislocations have been granted initial evaluations of 20 percent each from June 9, 1976 to January 29, 2002.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to determine whether the veteran's right shoulder disability, heart disorder, and respiratory disorder are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for nerve damage of the right arm, shoulder, and upper back as secondary to a service-connected left upper extremity disability. The decision did not provide an adequate statement of reasons and bases.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the medical and other evidence of record is against a finding that the veteran currently has chronic disabilities of the left shoulder, low back, and/or head (to include headaches) that were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person or due to being housebound.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right upper arm/shoulder disability due to lack of evidence linking his current condition to service.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a diagnosed left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, or right knee disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for psychiatric disability and an initial compensable rating for osteoarthritis of the right shoulder, finding that there were no compelling circumstances warranting prolonged unauthorized absence during his first period of active duty.

The veteran's claims for service connection of various joint disabilities and varicocele are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The VA is instructed to obtain treatment records, schedule the veteran for a comprehensive VA examination, and provide an opinion regarding the relationship between current disabilities and active service.

The Board has remanded the case to comply with additional notice requirements and for a VA examination.

The Board denied reopening the claims for residuals of bilateral knee injuries and complex partial seizures, as well as service connection for a right shoulder injury due to lack of new and material evidence.,There is no credible evidence showing that the veteran's current conditions had their onset during active service or are related to any in-service disease or injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claim and extending a temporary total rating based on convalescence following right knee surgery.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also found that the veteran's preexisting left knee disability was aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected conditions have not been found to warrant increased ratings.