Shoulder decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder injury is proximately due to his service-connected knee disabilities, and thus grants service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left shoulder tendonitis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show ankylosis, limitation of motion at shoulder level, recurrent dislocation or malunion of the scapulohumeral joint, impairment of the clavicle or scapula, or functional limitations due to flare-ups.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for readjudication of his claims due to additional evidence introduced into the record.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for various disabilities. The RO's July 1979 decision is considered final, and thus these claims remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected residuals of a left shoulder shrapnel wound.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for further medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate February 2006 VA examination, and a new orthopedic examination is required to determine if the Veteran's right shoulder disability is proximately due to or the result of her service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety disorder, a right shoulder disability, a left shoulder disability, and a low back disability. The claim of reopening the previously denied anxiety disorder was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, a chronic right shoulder disorder, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (claimed as a back condition), and PTSD or depression, are not service-connected. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for postoperative residuals of the right shoulder, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim.

The Veteran's postoperative right shoulder with arthritis was initially granted a noncompensable evaluation in April 2003, and then increased to 10 percent effective from October 2006 due to pain on use. The appeal is denied as no higher evaluations are warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current neck, shoulder, back, or left elbow disability as a result of service and therefore denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder, low back disorder, left elbow disorder, and right shoulder disorder were denied. The claim for service connection for left eye episcleritis (claimed as episcleritis) was granted.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was found to more nearly approximate motion limited to the shoulder level (90 degrees), warranting a 20 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence submitted by the Veteran, and it is not clear whether service connection should be granted or denied for each condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a fracture of the right second toe was denied. The Board found no competent medical evidence to show that the Veteran has a current disability of the right second toe.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, broken left eardrum, depression, and residuals of right shoulder and right arm injuries from shrapnel. The evidence did not support a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral ankle, shoulder, knee, low back, and left hip disabilities were denied as not related to service.