Shoulder decisions — 2009

New and material evidence was received for all four claims, allowing them to be reopened. However, the claims for service connection were not substantiated based on the available medical evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have arthritis or any other disability of either shoulder. The VA examination revealed degenerative joint disease in the cervical spine, but no arthritis in the shoulders. The Board concluded that service connection for a shoulder disability is not warranted.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a shell fragment wound of the neck, arthritis of bilateral shoulders, and numbness and tingling of bilateral arms, hands, and fingers. The Veteran did not sustain a shell fragment wound to his neck during service, and there is no evidence of current disability related to this injury. The Board also found that the arthritis of the shoulders was not shown during service or for many years thereafter, and the numbness and tingling were due to bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for an orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's initial non-compensable evaluation for back strain with degenerative disc disease has been granted.,A 10 percent evaluation is assigned for restless leg syndrome, as the severity of symptoms most nearly approximates moderate compulsive tic.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because there is no objective evidence verifying the occurrence of any alleged in-service stressor. The claim for residuals of right shoulder injury will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an examination.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the previously denied claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, neck disability, and chronic back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, and a lower and middle back disorder. The Board found no current disability from these conditions and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to link any of them to her military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left wrist and right shoulder disorders has been withdrawn. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease from May 29, 2003 to March 29, 2005 is denied as the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating during this period. From March 30, 2005, an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have chronic right knee or right shoulder/biceps disabilities related to service. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee arthroplasty and tendonitis of the right shoulder do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating, as they do not result in a combined rating of at least 70% when considering all disabilities. The Board finds that he is not unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left thumb fracture residuals. The Veteran's residuals of a left thumb fracture do not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation. The Veteran's tinea cruris does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent, and his tinea pedis with intradermal reaction of the hands does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and arthritis of multiple joints, finding that there is no current disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability has met the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation since April 10, 2008.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left shoulder injury and back injury, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board found that the appellant did not have current diagnoses of a cervical spine disorder, low back disorder, left shoulder disorder, or bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome related to his military service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.