Shoulder decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case due to missing Social Security Administration records and for further development.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current right shoulder disorder is related to his service, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be established.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, characterized by impingement syndrome and DJD, does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent as there is no evidence of ankylosis or limitation of motion to midway between the side and shoulder level.

The Veteran's current musculoskeletal complaints are not related to any event, injury or disease incurred in service. The Veteran is currently diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder that is not related to any psychiatric problem she had while in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, right foot disorder, left shoulder disorder, low back strain, and left hallux valgus deformity were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and a back condition, as well as his claims for glaucoma, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence submitted since the November 2001 rating decision did not provide new and material evidence to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left shoulder disability is related to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling due to limitation of motion. The claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 30 percent is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated information on the Veteran's military service and providing proper VCAA notice regarding how to establish service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed eye disability, right elbow condition, left elbow condition, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, chronic neck condition, and chronic back condition as not well grounded. The appeal is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was granted, and he is now entitled to a 10% disability rating for his scar condition since May 5, 1999.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and a bilateral knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for his left and right shoulder disabilities have been granted, with the effective date being January 21, 2008. The Veteran meets the criteria for a 20 percent evaluation for each shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the Veteran's request for a video conference hearing.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and reopening of a claim due to incomplete development, including scheduling an examination and providing proper notice regarding new and material evidence requirements.

The Board has determined that the Veteran sustained a left shoulder dislocation during service and has experienced recurrent left shoulder instability since then. The Board finds that these symptoms are related to his active military service, warranting service connection for residuals of a left shoulder injury.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of claim. The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 10 percent. Service connection for gynecological and urinary system disorders including hysterectomy, recurrent bacterial vaginosis, urinary tract infections, and herpes simplex II has been granted.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the appellant has not provided sufficient evidence to establish that any of his service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder, post-operative residuals of a right shoulder acromioplasty with tendonitis, impingement and adhesive capsulitis, has not resulted in limitation of arm motion to shoulder level since August 17, 2004. Therefore, the claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Board has not decided the service connection claims for right and left shoulder disorders, right and left knee disorders, and a deviated nasal septum. The Veteran's claim is pending on appeal.