Shoulder decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a right shoulder or bilateral knee disorder, and thus the veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection were granted for a right hip disability. The other conditions, including diplopia and bilateral shoulder disability, were denied as new evidence was not sufficient to reopen the claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for alcohol abuse and substance abuse as secondary to his service-connected schizophrenia and PTSD, as well as his claim for an earlier effective date for his service connection for schizophrenia, paranoid type, and PTSD. The issues of new and material evidence were also addressed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and bilateral knee disorders, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current left shoulder disability or bilateral wrist and elbow arthritis to service. As a result, the claim for service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disability is not service-connected, and his PTSD warrants a 50 percent rating effective January 31, 2005.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left shoulder separation does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as his range of motion is at or near the shoulder level and does not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and neck disability. However, the claims were denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or continuity of symptomatology after service.

The Board found that the veteran's left shoulder disability did not result in limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side, and thus denied an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and evaluation of her right shoulder disability, as the last examination was conducted in March 2006.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a currently diagnosed disability of the left shoulder or right ankle, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis C and arthritis of the hands, arms, shoulders, knees, and ankles as there is no evidence that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disorder, left ankle disorder, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of concussion, facial paralysis, and speech impediment. The reasons include a lack of evidence of chronic disability in service or continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board found that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for coryza, bronchitis and bronchopneumonia, ascaris infection, right costo-vertebral condition, and right shoulder disability. The claims were denied.

The Board has remanded both issues for further development and consideration of the evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current back disorder or shoulder condition and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The preponderance of the evidence is against granting service connection for either condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depressive disorder to include anxiety, residuals of rubella, right ankle disability, and left shoulder disability were all denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,VA did not provide a VA examination in response to the veteran's claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder condition, finding no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence to link any past complaints or injuries to his current symptoms.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and compensable evaluations for his head, shoulder, and leg injuries. The decision found that headaches were likely due to pre-existing conditions and not related to service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.