Shoulder decisions — 2008

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service for the veteran's cervical spine and shoulder conditions, thus denying these claims.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's right shoulder prior to September 21, 2005.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his right shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and information.

The Board has denied service connection for right elbow, right ankle, and sinusitis disabilities. The issue of service connection for right shoulder disability remains pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Hepatitis C, a Right Shoulder Disability, and a Right Hand Disability. The claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was previously denied in September 1999 and is not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The ratings for bilateral hearing loss and ligament damage, left knee, with minimal joint space narrowing; degenerative joint disease were reduced but the veteran's appeal for restoration of these ratings are granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records and clarification of the August 2005 VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the veteran has current diagnosed right wrist and left shoulder disabilities, and if so, whether they are related to service.

The veteran's right shoulder disability, which included recurrent subluxation and osteoarthritis, was rated at 100% effective July 5, 2005 due to the partial prosthetic replacement surgery.

The veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular evaluation allowed by Diagnostic Code 5201. The evidence does not support a higher rating as his range of motion has been between 70 and 90 degrees (shoulder level) with consideration of pain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for sinusitis, a left leg disability, a right shoulder disability, bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome, and a right foot drop (including sciatic nerve disorder).

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability and granted it, finding new and material evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current left shoulder disability is related to his military service.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for various foot and hip conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral shoulder condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition are not related to service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The veteran's service-connected right and left shoulder disorders have been rated based on their functional impairment, with the highest rating of 50% assigned for fibrous union of the glenohumeral joint in October 2007. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The VA determined that the veteran's conduct and cooperation were not satisfactory, leading to the discontinuance of his vocational rehabilitation benefits.

The veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and right shoulder disability were denied as these conditions are not related to his military service.,For the period prior to March 14, 2008, the veteran was granted a 10 percent evaluation for ulnar entrapment with decreased sensation in the fingers. From that date onwards, he is rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, hypertension, and kidney stones. The claim of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for type 2 diabetes mellitus was granted with an effective date of March 12, 2004, and increased to 20 percent effective February 7, 2006. The veteran's PTSD claim remains pending.

The veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional records from SSA and clarification on whether his service-connected orthopedic disorders alone prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.