Shoulder decisions — 2009

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder bursitis did not result in restricted arm motion to 25 degrees from his side or ankylosis of the scapulohumeral joint, and thus a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, gout of the feet, and gout of the right knee disabilities were not found to be related to his service.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted an increased rating to 20 percent, but his claim for service connection of a bilateral shoulder disability secondary to the cervical spine disability was denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for headaches, which he claims are related to his service-connected disabilities and/or undiagnosed illness. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete notice and need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current right shoulder disorder and the extent of his service-connected right elbow epicondylitis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any neck and/or right shoulder disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for hyperlipidemia, mild degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder, and Achilles tendonitis with degenerative changes to the right ankle. The appeals were not addressed as they are referred to the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities of the right shoulder, low back, and knees were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not show a nexus between any current disability and service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disorder and denied the claim for an increased rating for scars to the left waist.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete medical records from the VA Medical Center in Leavenworth, Kansas. The AMC/RO must obtain these records and review the claims.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and service connection were denied. The conditions claimed, including hemorrhoids, parotid calculus and lump on the left cheek, skin condition of the hands, bronchitis, laryngitis, frostbite of the feet and hands, otitis media, compression neuropathy of the left side, bilateral knee pain and fluid, allergic reaction to a typhoid shot (chronic rhinitis), and exposure to ethylene and nitrous oxide gases were not found to be service-connected or warrant higher initial evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and further development of evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder and secondary service connection for a right shoulder rotator cuff injury. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and denied service connection for multiple joint and muscle pain involving the neck, shoulders, and elbows as well as chest cavity pain, both claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness. The Veteran's PTSD was found to be incurred in service, while his other claims were not supported by evidence.

The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected post-operative residuals, putti-platt repair right shoulder injury with traumatic arthritis and ulnar nerve entrapment syndrome. The Board has ordered the RO to schedule the Veteran for appropriate examinations to evaluate the current severity of his disability, including neurological and muscular manifestations.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have any chronic lumbar spine, right shoulder or left knee conditions, nor cysts of the lower abdominal wall, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for all issues except gout, which received a 20% disability rating. The remaining conditions were either not granted or had their ratings denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for disabilities of the shoulders and knees, but ultimately denied these claims on the merits.

The Veteran's knee, elbow, and shoulder strains are being remanded for further development to determine if they are related to service.