Shoulder decisions — 2008

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for residuals of a low back injury. However, there is no competent medical evidence showing current diagnoses or chronic disabilities of the foot, leg, hip, anxiety/depression, or PTSD.

The VA has denied the veteran's request for an increased evaluation higher than 30 percent for his service-connected right shoulder disability, as there is no evidence of limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side or any other disabling condition that would warrant such a rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, cognitive disorder (memory loss), recurrent joint discomfort, tension headaches, and skin disorders, were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these disabilities to his period of active military service or the Persian Gulf War.

The veteran's service-connected surgical scar with neuroma affecting the supraspinatus nerve of the left shoulder and C5 radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hip arthralgia as due to an undiagnosed illness incurred during the veteran's Gulf War service, but denied service connection for multiple joint pain of the shoulders and knees.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left leg/knee, back, and bilateral shoulder disabilities as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding medical records and hearing requests.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant due to his inability to walk without assistance and the lack of structural adaptations needed in his home.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for rotator cuff tear, right shoulder; an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than post-traumatic stress disorder); and PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that resulted in these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and left shoulder disabilities, finding that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for his TDIU benefit, which was granted in April 2004. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the earliest date at which he became unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder is not related to his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for further development, including addressing his claim of service connection for bilateral osteoarthritis of the shoulders as secondary to a service-connected cervical fusion with degenerative joint disease. The TDIU claim is also deferred pending resolution of the secondary service connection issue.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable disability evaluations for his service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome and bilateral shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, as well as his claim for a total rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The RO continued noncompensable (zero percent) disability ratings for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal includes claims for increased evaluation, service connection, and new and material evidence. The Board has reopened the claim of heat cramps due to undiagnosed illness but denied all other issues.

The veteran's lower back disability is rated at 60 percent, his right shoulder disability at 20 percent effective the day after discharge from service, and his hypertension remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder and left knee, finding that the veteran's current disabilities are causally related to his in-service injuries.

The Board found no evidence of a fractured jaw in service and denied the claims for service connection for colon polyps, nasal polyps, and lipoma of the left shoulder. The veteran's conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board granted an increased evaluation of 40 percent for the veteran's left shoulder disability, effective from February 15, 2007. The claim to reopen service connection for a back disorder was also granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, evidence review, and proper notification.