Shoulder decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the current diagnosis and relationship of the veteran's neck and shoulder conditions to service. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hip disability but denied service connection for a shoulder disability.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 15, 2001 for the assignment of a 40 percent rating for traumatic arthritis of the right shoulder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left shoulder disability is not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current osteoarthritis of multiple joints, including shoulders, right knee, lumbar spine, and hands, is related to his active military service. The appeal for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that a more contemporaneous VA examination is necessary to determine the relationship between the veteran's claimed bilateral shoulder and elbow disorders, as well as his loss of use of both hands, and his service-connected peripheral neuropathy. The veteran will be provided with another opportunity to submit evidence supporting these claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding her claimed bilateral shoulder disabilities and right hand numbness, as the current evidence does not establish a clear link to service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a skin disorder due to herbicide exposure, or significant impairment in the joints and gastrointestinal system that would warrant higher ratings.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a back or right shoulder disability as a result of his military service, including from parachuting while in service. As such, he is denied service connection for these conditions.

The VA has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected shell fragment wounds of the left shoulder and thoracic spine, finding that the residuals do not warrant a rating higher than the current 20 percent and 10 percent ratings.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee and shoulder disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a motorcycle accident are not service-connected due to being incurred as a direct result of willful misconduct.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder is currently rated at 30 percent, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if an increased rating is warranted.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VCAA notice and a medical examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine strain, left knee strain, and left shoulder strain. The claim for an increased rating for Addison's disease was also denied as there were no objective manifestations of the disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right (major) shoulder capsulitis with bursitis, sinusitis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder including adjustment disorder. The decision found no competent evidence linking the veteran's claimed conditions to active service.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings on PTSD, cervical spine arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, and left shoulder arthritis has been dismissed. The Board finds that the earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is granted from May 19, 1994.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected chronic subluxating left shoulder with degenerative joint disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder strain, but denied service connection for back and knee disabilities as they are not related to the veteran's active military service.