Shoulder decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or establish service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran is entitled to reimbursement for the cost of unauthorized private medical expenses incurred on July 4, 2005 due to the emergency nature of the treatment and the unavailability of VA facilities.

The Veteran's left foot and ankle disability is service-connected.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling the Veteran for VA orthopedic and neurological examinations.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and an increased initial evaluation for his right knee disability were denied as there was no current diagnosis of a right shoulder disability, and the evidence did not support a higher rating for the right knee.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left arm and left shoulder disabilities, as well as his appeals for increased ratings for the residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left thoracic area and associated scar, were denied due to lack of evidence supporting the presence of current disabilities or their relationship to service.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran is not entitled to special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board denied an increased rating for the service-connected SFW, right shoulder, MG III, with retained foreign body, and denied service connection for a right ring finger disability as it was not related to the service-connected condition.

The Veteran did not file a timely Substantive Appeal for any of the service connection or increased rating claims, and therefore these claims are dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder and a bilateral shoulder disorder, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, kidney stones, defective vision, chronic obstipation, and arthritis of multiple joints were denied. The Veteran was granted a 50% evaluation for major depression from November 17, 2004.

The Veteran's residuals of a gunshot wound to the left shoulder (nondominant) involving injury to Muscle Group I are rated as 30 percent disabling, and a separate rating of 20 percent is granted for residuals of a gunshot wound to Muscle Group II.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's bilateral elbow, knee, ankle and foot disorders, a skin disorder, and a right shoulder disorder as they were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder as it was not related to service or any service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric disorders and a right shoulder disorder as they were not related to any aspect of the Veteran's service.

The appeal must be remanded to the RO via the AMC for further development and adjudicative action.

The Board found that the evidence received since the January 1954 and January 1995 rating decisions is not new and material, and therefore denied reopening of the claims for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a right shoulder disability, a left leg disability, and PTSD as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.