Shoulder decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an orthopedic examination and compliance with Vazquez-Flores requirements.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, resulting in a denial of the application.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current right shoulder disability to his service, including a parachute jump injury. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, cervical spine disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active duty service.,There is no credible evidence linking the veteran's current psychiatric condition or cervical spine disorder to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening service connection for residuals of injuries to his right shoulder and left leg, finding no new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of TDIU benefits should be February 15, 2002, as this is the earliest date on which it was factually ascertainable that the veteran's service-connected disabilities caused him to be unemployable.

The Board has granted service connection for a dental condition as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus (DM). The remaining claims are remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have a right or left shoulder disorder, and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing right shoulder injury was aggravated during service, and therefore grants service connection for his current right shoulder capsulitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claims and granted him some benefits, but did not find new evidence to support reopening of those claims. The veteran's bilateral foot disability, left ankle disability, and congestive heart failure were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for spondylosis of the lumbosacral spine, finding that it is related to military service. The other claims for service connection were denied as there was no current disability or evidence linking the claimed conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the current right shoulder condition is not related to any disease or injury in service, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the hands, knees, and shoulders as there is no competent medical evidence showing a current disability. The claim for tinnitus was granted due to the in-service noise exposure resulting in hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and other issues.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for his right shoulder injury with traumatic arthritis is being remanded. Additionally, the issue regarding service connection for a right forearm condition secondary to his service-connected right shoulder residuals is also being referred back to the RO.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim of service connection for a skin disorder. As such, the right shoulder claim will be remanded for further development.

The veteran is seeking compensation for a right shoulder disability due to VA treatment in March 2003. The case has been remanded for further evaluation and clarification of the nature of the additional disability incurred.

The VA denied the claim for service connection of right shoulder disability due to the appellant's failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for an extension of temporary total rating due to treatment for service-connected right knee disability and increased ratings for hiatal hernia. The appeals regarding service connection for respiratory, sinus, bilateral foot, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected nasal fracture. The ratings for the residuals of a nasal fracture and bilateral hearing loss were also denied.