Shoulder decisions — 2009

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for initial evaluation claims related to degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder, tendonitis of the right wrist, bursitis of the right hip, irritable bowel syndrome, and hypothyroidism.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions and increased ratings, finding no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated 20 percent from June 1, 2005, to October 19, 2008, and the rating was reduced to 10 percent thereafter. The other claims for higher ratings were denied.

The Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right elbow disorder, a right shoulder disorder, PTSD, hepatitis C, a right eye disorder, an ulcer, a scar of the right shoulder, and tinea versicolor were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's gout has been rated at 40 percent, and the claims for service connection for a bilateral leg disability, hearing loss, left ear condition (previously shown as dizziness), right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability have been reopened.,The claim for service connection for a bilateral hand disability was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease with herniated nucleus pulposus at L4-S1, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and right shoulder separation/Bankart lesion were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Board remands the claims for a low back, left arm, and left shoulder disorder to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) for further development and consideration.

The claims for service connection for residuals of a right shoulder contusion and back disorder were reopened based on new and material evidence, but further development is needed to decide the underlying merits.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for left elbow, shoulder, and bilateral knee disabilities as they were not related to the Veteran's service or secondary to his homocystine disease.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues on appeal, and the Board has no jurisdiction to decide these benefits.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, neck disorder, shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, right leg disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an anxiety disorder as there is no competent medical evidence of record showing current diagnoses or that the disorders are related to active military service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, right ankle disability to include Achilles tendonitis, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability as there was no competent medical evidence of current disabilities or sufficient evidence to support a finding that the pre-existing conditions were aggravated during active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and impingement syndrome of the left shoulder, but granted a 40 percent rating for the same period for the lumbar spine condition.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right foot condition, a left knee condition, and residuals of a pulled left shoulder muscle as there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's right shoulder injury residuals and adjustment disorder with depressed mood do not meet the criteria for ratings higher than 40 percent and 30 percent, respectively.

The Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and service connection for bilateral hallux valgus, a bilateral shoulder disability, and thoracic spine and lumbar spine disability are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left elbow disability, right shoulder disability, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right upper arm/shoulder disability due to lack of evidence showing a current disability and no nexus between any claimed condition and service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic arthritis of the feet, ankles, legs, knees, shoulders and hips and found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the back, arms, neck and hands.