Shoulder decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder and left knee, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim was also denied due to the combined rating not meeting the criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations or service connection.

The veteran's left fourth toe status post knuckle removal, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, and left varicocele are each rated at the minimum 10% level.,Bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease and increased ratings for subacromial bursitis of the right shoulder were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to heart disease, and the preponderance of the evidence did not support higher ratings for the right shoulder condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disability, including rotator cuff tear and degenerative arthritis, is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for residuals of injuries to the back, neck, left shoulder, and head. However, it denied reopening his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence showing a current disability related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder and degenerative joint disease of the left hip, finding that these conditions are related to active military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of right shoulder injury, residuals of dislocation of the right thumb, and hearing loss have been denied. The claim for tinnitus was withdrawn by the veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lung disease, a right shoulder disability, a nervous stomach, and polyposis, intestinal, adenomatosis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current left shoulder disorder to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a persistent cough and arthritis of the right shoulder, finding that there was no objective evidence of these conditions during service or since. The veteran's statements regarding his symptoms were not sufficient to establish presumptive service connection based on Gulf War illness.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine and bilateral shoulder disabilities are not service-connected, as they were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied by operation of law due to his failure without good cause to report for VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder dislocation and awarded separate ratings for associated neurological problems, scarring, muscle damage to the supraspinatus and infraspinatus area, and muscle damage to the deltoid and mid clavicle area. The initial rating for orthopedic impairment remains at 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his left shoulder, cervical spine, and left upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities. The veteran was not granted service connection for depression.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder arthritis and cervical spine arthritis and degenerative disc disease, finding that the veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service fall in May 1969.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disorder and denied service connection for hearing loss. The veteran's left shoulder disorder is considered to be related to his in-service injury, while the evidence does not support a finding of current service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine if the veteran has a right shoulder disorder or PTSD related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service medical records are not available and requests for additional records have been made. The veteran is also required to undergo VA examinations to determine if he currently suffers from left knee and shoulder conditions, and whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right shoulder bicipital tendonitis and bursitis, cervical strain, and dorsolumbar strain were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA rating criteria.