Shoulder decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right hip disorder and denied her claim for service connection. The issue of service connection for a right shoulder disorder is remanded, as well as the issue of service connection for a right knee disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including presbyopia (eye condition), hearing loss in the right ear, a left foot disorder, a right iliotibial band syndrome (claimed as right leg condition), rib contusion (claimed as right side disorder), benign prostatic enlargement with bladder outlet syndrome (claimed as frequent urination), and right shoulder strain have all been denied. The veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right shoulder arthritis is not related to an injury sustained during INACDUTRA on September 20, 1975. As a result, service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's neck and back disorders are not service-connected, but his left shoulder disorder is rated at 30% since September 9, 2004. The effective date for this rating remains under review.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any current disabilities related to his service, and therefore, he is denied entitlement to service connection for multiple conditions.

The veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, to include as secondary to his service-connected fracture of the right femur, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an opinion regarding the etiology of his shoulder condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for rescheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO level.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a heart disorder or headaches. The claims of entitlement to initial disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for right foot hallux valgus and left foot hallux valgus are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to new medical evidence suggesting that the veteran's service-connected shell fragment wounds may have contributed to his death. The VA will obtain an opinion on this matter and then re-adjudicate the claim.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his duodenal ulcer was denied.,The claims to reopen service connection for hepatitis C, syphilis, and gonorrhea were not supported by new and material evidence, resulting in denial of those claims.,Service connection for a right shoulder disorder was not established.

The Board found no evidence to support a service connection for a right shoulder disorder and denied the veteran's claim. The issue of an increased disability rating for his scar of the right thumb was not addressed in this decision.

The veteran is granted a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities, but denied a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring necessary special home adaptations as he already has the required rating and does not meet other eligibility criteria.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for the issues of whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, rotator cuff tear and degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, and degenerative joint disease of the right acromioclavicular joint.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sleep disorder and bilateral shoulder disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disability warrants a 30 percent rating, effective from when his claim was filed.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar disc disease and bilateral shoulder strain as residuals of a dorsal spine injury in service, and for service connection or residuals of frostbite. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right shoulder arthritis. The claim for residuals of excisions of basal cell carcinoma was not addressed as it was rated noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder disability is related to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to September 21, 2005 for his right shoulder disability was denied as the range of motion did not limit it to midway between side and shoulder level.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a left shoulder disorder and an increased rating for PTSD. The low back syndrome issues were not addressed in this decision.