Shoulder decisions — 2008

The veteran's right shoulder disability, affecting his major arm, is manifested by subjective complaints of pain and objective evidence of tenderness over the acromioclavicular (AC) joint with arthritis shown on X-ray. However, there is no evidence of joint separation deformity or limited motion to shoulder level, nor instability, deformity, or recurrent dislocations.

The veteran is not entitled to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a left shoulder disorder. Prior to November 3, 2003, he was granted a 20 percent rating for osteoarthritis of the acromioclavicular joint, left shoulder.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine arthritis as secondary to the veteran's service-connected pes planus, but denied service connection for right wrist sprain, right arm disorder, right shoulder disorder (arthritis), left shoulder arthritis, and meningitis.

The appeal was remanded to ensure proper VCAA notice for the issues of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the shoulders and cervical spine, as well as dyshidrosis of the hands and feet.

The veteran's claims for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability and service connection for right arm and hand symptoms secondary to the right shoulder disability are being remanded for additional development.

The appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining outstanding VA and non-VA treatment records, a new VA examination, and providing the veteran with VCAA notice.

The appeal for service connection for a left ankle disability and the current left ankle disability to include residuals of sprain was denied due to lack of evidence supporting continuity of symptomatology or a nexus between the current condition and service.

The veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is rated at 30 percent, and the claims for service connection for fatigue/sleep disturbance, headaches, a skin condition, arthritis of both shoulders, and allergies/respiratory problems were denied.

The veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted, and the ratings for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and residuals of a hemorrhoidectomy were increased to 10 percent and 30 percent, respectively.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, except for a 10 percent rating for left shoulder pain and impingement with history of partial dislocation.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings, to reopen a claim for service connection for a low back disability, and entitlement to TDIU were denied.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, but denied service connection for a right shoulder disability. The veteran was also granted service connection for anal fissures and hemorrhoids.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including the scheduling of VA examinations and providing proper notice to the veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right shoulder and a heart condition, to include coronary artery disease (CAD), mitral valve prolapse, tricuspid regurgitation, atrial fibrillation and aortic valve sclerosis.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, and shoulder disabilities as there was no evidence of a current disability.

The veteran's left shoulder disability is rated as 20 percent disabling due to limitation of motion at the shoulder level.

The veteran's left hip arthralgia and right ankle disorder do not warrant increased ratings, and the effective date for the increase in the evaluation of the right ankle disorder is denied. The claims for service connection for PTSD, a right shoulder disorder, residuals of a right bicep tear, and a back disorder are also denied.

The veteran's bilateral knee, left shoulder, right shoulder, right ankle, and left fifth toe disabilities were not related to his military service.

The Board remands the case for a VA examination to determine whether the veteran has shoulder and neck disabilities related to or had their onset during service.

The veteran was granted an initial 10 percent evaluation for hypertension, and the other claims were denied higher ratings.