Shoulder decisions — 2008

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for pain of the left shoulder, arm, and hand as secondary to his service-connected residuals of fracture of C-4 and C-5. The evidence did not show a current diagnosis of such a condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee and left shoulder arthritis, as well as his claims for service connection for dizziness and chest pain. The evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has decided to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disorder. However, additional medical evaluation is needed to determine if any current arthritis disorders or respiratory disorder are related to service, particularly exposure to cold weather in Korea.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU due to incomplete development of records, including VA treatment records and SSA disability benefit redeterminations. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations, as well as her requests for earlier effective dates. The RO established service connection for right knee medial compartment degenerative joint disease but denied other claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, hypercholesterolemia, a left shoulder condition, and a left knee condition. The veteran was not granted an increased rating for her lumbosacral strain with minimal degenerative changes.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral shoulder disabilities did not have their onset during service and are not related to his active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The VA found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations or service connection.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the RO has granted an increased evaluation to 50 percent effective September 2004. The evaluations for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, arthritic changes of the right shoulder, myofascial dysfunction of the left posterior shoulder girdle, and scar on the forehead remain at their current levels.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development due to the need for additional medical examinations and records. The veteran's service-connected cervical radiculopathy (left shoulder impingement) is being evaluated, with consideration of any additional impairment in his left hand and wrist.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, right shoulder, and right wrist disorders were denied as there is no current evidence of a disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claim for rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, headaches, a left shoulder disorder, a gynecological disorder, urticaria, and panic disorder with agoraphobia. The evidence did not establish current diagnoses or show these conditions were incurred in service.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disorder, as there was no medical nexus between his in-service injury and his current condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disorder did not have its onset during service and is not related to any in-service disease or injury, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have a left shoulder disability or a low back disability. The issue of cervical strain (neck) is pending and remanded for additional development.,Service connection was denied for both the claimed left shoulder disability and low back disability.

The Board has granted effective dates of March 3, 1997 for the assignment of a 20 percent disability rating for service-connected arthritis of the left shoulder and right shoulder.

The veteran's left shoulder and neck disorders are found to be service-connected. The right knee laceration is rated at the highest allowable level, and a higher rating for the left hand injury from May 2, 2006 is granted. An effective date earlier than November 26, 2002 for the 10 percent disability rating of the left hand injury is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether all service-connected disabilities combine to render the veteran unemployable. The claim will also be submitted to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration based on a private physician's December 2007 opinion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively.