Shoulder decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the veteran's shoulder disabilities are related to his service-connected ankylosing spondylitis and to assess any current functional impairment in the shoulders.

The veteran is seeking an increased disability rating for his service-connected post-operative residuals, putti-platt repair right shoulder injury with traumatic arthritis and ulnar nerve entrapment syndrome. The Board finds that a VA examination is necessary to assess the severity of the neurological aspects of the condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,There is no current diagnosis or treatment records for an irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder and denied entitlement to a temporary total evaluation under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.30, for left patella surgeries in October 2005, December 2005 and March 2006.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, arthritis of the right shoulder and left hip/knee joints, as well as other conditions. The veteran's current joint problems are not related to his period of active service.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic headaches, bilateral knee disorders, left shoulder disorder, and a left hand disorder. The veteran's claims are pending for the other issues.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, neck disability, back disability, and right knee disability have been denied. The Board found that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral shoulder disability. For the other conditions, the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding of service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including left shoulder disorder, low back disorder, right knee disorder and left knee disorder.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disorder, residuals, bilateral ankle sprain, a left foot disorder, and a low back disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and a left shoulder disability on the basis that these conditions are related to the veteran's service-connected right shoulder and thoracolumbar spine disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, left shoulder, and low back disabilities due to the presumption that these conditions existed prior to service. The veteran's current complaints of pain do not constitute a disability warranting service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for her right shoulder and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, elbow and arm as secondary to his service-connected residuals of injury to the right hand.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not incur any of the claimed conditions during service or within one year post-service, and thus, they are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran did not have bilateral hearing loss, a left shoulder disorder, or a low back disorder as a result of military service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability. The claim is now reopened, but further development is needed before a decision can be made on whether service connection should be granted.

The Board has determined that the injuries sustained on June 21, 1986 were incurred in the line of duty and granted service connection for all claimed conditions.

The Board granted increased ratings of 20 percent for right and left shoulder impingement syndrome, effective August 7, 2002.

The Board found no current disability in the knees or right shoulder, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder and right knee disabilities. The preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to active service.,Bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and sensorineural hearing loss may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.