Shoulder decisions — 2008

The veteran's service-connected right shoulder strain and mid-thoracic back strain are currently rated as 20 percent and no rating, respectively. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation for either condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected ankle disabilities played a material causal role in his death, and therefore grants service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left ulnar nerve neuropathy, and arthritis of the left shoulder are all related to his service.

The Board has denied the veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, gout, lesion of the right oral buccal mucosa, and lipoma of the left shoulder as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after active duty.

The Board has granted a higher rating for the veteran's service-connected left shoulder scar, but denied an increased rating for his residuals of lacerations to the back.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective April 5, 2001, based on the veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative changes of the right shoulder, chronic Hepatitis C, a lumbar spine disorder, and a bilateral knee disorder. The evidence did not establish new and material evidence to reopen the claim for degenerative changes of the right shoulder, nor was there sufficient medical evidence linking any current disabilities to service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and left shoulder disorders due to new evidence submitted since the May 1977 denial. The Board found that a pre-existing cervical spine disorder was aggravated during active service.

The Board denied service connection for left and right shoulder conditions as there is no current diagnosis of a disability, and the veteran's complaints do not establish that any condition was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, while significant, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's service connection claims for tinea versicolor and hypertension were granted, while the remaining conditions were denied.

The Board remands the case for additional development of evidence, including obtaining treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the etiology of hearing loss.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease, status post hemilaminectomy and discectomy, L5-S1, limitation of motion for the left shoulder, and hemorrhoids, do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg and left shoulder disorder, as well as a higher disability rating for the veteran's duodenal ulcer with subtotal gastric resection.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and service connection, thus the Board has no jurisdiction in these matters.

The veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent from April 9, 2002 to November 21, 2003 and then increased to 20 percent effective November 21, 2003. The rating remained at 20 percent until April 7, 2005 when it was increased to 30 percent.

The Board remands the case for additional development, including providing VCAA notice regarding effective dates.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for muscle and joint aches of the shoulders, elbows, legs, and feet, and swelling of the lower extremities, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness.