Shoulder decisions — 2008

The veteran's left shoulder disorder is granted as it is proximately due to the service-connected limitation of supination, left arm.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were remanded to schedule a videoconference hearing.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder disability, disabilities of the wrists and fingers, left foot disability, and bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support higher disability evaluations.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of various conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and bronchial asthma.

The Board remands the claims for higher ratings for shoulder disabilities to obtain a new VA examination, as the previous one did not address all required findings.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, eczema, a knee disorder, right shoulder tendonitis, and joint stiffness due to undiagnosed illness. The appellant's PTSD was rated 70 percent effective February 20, 2004, with an additional increase to 100 percent as of December 31, 2007, for the migraine headache disability prior to June 9, 2005, and a non-compensable evaluation thereafter.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for recurrent left shoulder dislocation, paresthesia of the left upper extremity, and a residual left shoulder surgical scar were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The veteran's left shoulder disability does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability, sexual dysfunction (secondary to PTSD), gastrointestinal disability (secondary to PTSD), and hypertension (secondary to PTSD) were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or that these conditions were related to his active service. The evaluation for PTSD remained at 50 percent.

The Board granted service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied claims for service connection for neck and shoulder disabilities and an undiagnosed illness manifested by irritability, behavioral changes, insomnia, and fatigue. The claim for migraine headaches was deferred pending further development.

The case is remanded for the veteran to be scheduled for a new videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of a left rib injury was granted, while appeals for PTSD and anxiety secondary to service-connected disabilities were denied. The claim for a left shoulder condition was also denied.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right shoulder strain with degenerative changes and a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, disc disease, and traumatic arthritis. It granted an initial staged rating of 20 percent for cervical strain, myositis and disc disease from May 14, 1997, and 10 percent for right foot injury with traumatic arthritis, great toe metatarsophalangeal joint fracture from May 14, 1997. It also granted an initial staged rating of 10 percent for a scalp scar effective October 26, 2006.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder, bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral shoulder disability were denied as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or sufficient evidence to link them to his military service.

The veteran's initial evaluation for generalized anxiety disorder was increased to 50 percent, but no more. The other claims were denied or not decided.

The Board remands the case for further development, including a medical examination to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including a local personal hearing and VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and a left shoulder disability as they were not attributable to the veteran's active service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine, right ankle disorder, and right shoulder disorder were remanded to obtain a VA examination with medical nexus opinions.