Shoulder decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left shoulder degenerative joint disease, as well as his claim for service connection for a thoracic spine disability. The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the neck and a bilateral shoulder disorder, finding no competent medical evidence showing these conditions are related to service.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for mechanical low back strain with degenerative joint disease and left shoulder tendonitis, as his conditions did not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has granted a 20% rating for the veteran's left shoulder disability as of October 11, 2007. The claim for a compensable rating for the scar on his left shoulder is denied. The claim for a compensable rating for inguinal hernia is also denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for his right shoulder disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent.

The veteran's Reiter's syndrome, right foot associated with Reiter's syndrome, right knee is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.,The veteran's Reiter's syndrome, left foot associated with Reiter's syndrome, left knee is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.,The veteran's service-connected Reiter's syndrome, right shoulder associated with Reiter's syndrome, left shoulder is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.,The veteran's service-connected Reiter's syndrome, left shoulder is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.,The veteran's service connected Reiter's syndrome, right wrist associated with Reiter's syndrome, left shoulder is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.,The veteran's service-connected Reiter's syndrome, right knee is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.,The veteran's service-connected Reiter's syndrome, left knee is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board denied service connection for hip, knee, foot, ankle, hand, and left shoulder disorders. The Board found that the veteran's current respiratory disorder is related to his military service in Korea.

The Board has granted initial disability ratings of 30 percent for recurrent dislocation of the right shoulder and 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, effective September 9, 1996.

The Board found that the veteran's right shoulder disorder did not meet the criteria for service connection and denied both his claim for service connection and his request for an increased evaluation.

The veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent prior to May 29, 2008, and increased to 20 percent from that date.,The veteran's low back disability was rated at 10 percent prior to May 29, 2008, and increased to 40 percent from that date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting right shoulder disorder was not aggravated by active duty service, and thus service connection is granted.

The veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, and his bilateral shoulder disabilities are not service-connected. The right arm peripheral neuropathy is granted secondary to the low back condition. However, the TDIU claim remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and whether the combined disability rating is correct. The effective date issue regarding the 30 percent rating for unfavorable ankylosis of the left thumb and index fingers remains under review.

The Board finds that the veteran's right shoulder and hip conditions are service-connected, with hypertension being denied as not related to his active service.

The Board determined that the veteran's left shoulder disability was not caused by VA treatment, and therefore compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and right arm scars, as well as service connection for a left ankle disorder, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an initial rating in excess of the currently assigned noncompensable ratings for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations of his service-connected right shoulder and right fibula disabilities were denied. The RO found that the right shoulder disability did not meet criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 30, 2008 or from January 30, 2008 onwards. For the exostosis right fibula, the RO also determined that it did not warrant a compensable rating prior to January 17, 2006 and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by or related to premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) noted during service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of his claim for right shoulder strain. The other conditions were not found to be related to his military service.