Shoulder decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete verification of service and outstanding STRs.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his right shoulder disabilities was denied. The initial rating of 20 percent for recurrent dislocations and the current 10 percent rating for post-surgical right shoulder disability with residual partial fusion and osteoarthritis were both found to be appropriate.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, right shoulder bursitis, and lumbosacral strain have been granted. The Veteran is now rated at a 10% disability rating for his right shoulder bursitis and a 10% disability rating for his lumbosacral strain.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current, chronic shoulder disability and denied his claim for service connection as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral CTS and left ulnar nerve neuropathy, DJD of the shoulders and knees, and degenerative joint disease of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board found no evidence of a left shoulder disability during service and denied the claim as there is not sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between current left shoulder disability and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied as there is no evidence of additional disability warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease at L4-L5 and L5-S1 is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The claim for service connection of cervical spine and right shoulder conditions as secondary to the service-connected degenerative disc disease at L4-L5 and L5-S1 remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran is entitled to a higher disability rating of 20 percent for his right shoulder rotator cuff tear, but denied all other claims.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left shoulder disabilities have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran is entitled to a higher disability rating of 20 percent for his right shoulder rotator cuff tear, but denied all other claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral shoulder disorder and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities, finding that any pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board found no evidence of a connection between the Veteran's current shoulder disorders and his military service, resulting in a denial of his claims.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for arthritis of the left shoulder due to a shrapnel wound has been reopened, but his PTSD remains rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed PTSD, right shoulder and right knee disabilities are not service-connected due to insufficient evidence of inservice stressors.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the August 2002 denial supports reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety and depression. However, both anxiety and left shoulder strain were not shown to be related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have not met the criteria for increased evaluations beyond the currently assigned ratings.

The Veteran is entitled to special monthly pension based on housebound status due to multiple non-service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease. He also meets the age requirement for this benefit.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right eye injury with blindness. The claim for bilateral shoulder disorder was denied as there is no evidence of any in-service injury or disease related to this condition. Service connection for a dental disorder was also denied due to lack of medical evidence linking the current condition to military service.