Shoulder decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen claims for service connection for left knee, left shoulder, left arm, right eye, and psychiatric disorders. The veteran's conditions are deemed unrelated to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and back disability. The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee condition was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder tendonitis and bursitis, but did not grant an evaluation in excess of the currently assigned 20 percent rating.

The Board found no evidence of a current left shoulder, right hip, or back disorder in service or on separation. The veteran's complaints were not supported by medical evidence.,No service connection is granted for the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and a need for further development, including a VA orthopedic examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder and assigned a noncompensable rating. The veteran's initial compensable rating claim for hemorrhoids with history of anal fissure is also granted, but her request for an increased rating for the left shoulder disorder remains pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, with the exception of tinnitus which was assigned a 10% evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for additional vocational rehabilitation services and employment assistance due to a lack of an employment handicap, despite his service-connected disabilities. The veteran is currently employed but contends that he cannot secure suitable employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after discharge, and there is no medical opinion linking the veteran's current conditions to his military service. The claims for service connection are denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection on the issues of residuals of a right shoulder injury, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss with vertigo are being remanded due to incomplete development.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral knee disability, disability manifested by chest pain, or sleep apnea. The claims for service connection for these conditions are therefore denied. Service connection is granted for a psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder), heel spurs, and bilateral shoulder arthritis.

The veteran's service-connected scars of the chin, left side (claimed as right side), right hand, right shoulder and right leg are all superficial, well-healed, nondisfiguring, small scars that are not painful and do not result in limitation of motion. As such, the preponderance of the evidence weighs against a finding that compensable disability ratings are warranted for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The veteran's disabilities, including chronic left shoulder degenerative joint disease, degenerative joint disease of the low back and hips, benign prostatic hypertrophy, bilateral dupuytrens contractures, and depression or dysthymia, are considered to be permanent and result in his being unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. As such, he is granted a permanent and total disability evaluation for pension purposes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disorder, left shoulder impingement syndrome (supraspinatus tear), and right shoulder subacromial bursitis did not have their onset during active service or are related to any in-service disease or injury. As a result, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total rating for nonservice-connected pension purposes is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of all his disabilities, including those not related to willful misconduct.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated medical records.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service for the right shoulder or knee disorders, and thus denied both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, low back pain, and kidney disorder. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus were also denied.