Shoulder decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected gunshot wound of the left shoulder and arm is not manifested by actual loss of use of the left shoulder and arm, and his major depression is manifested by occupational and social impairment with an occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of an inability to perform occupational tasks. The Veteran's combined disability rating does not preclude him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for right knee and right shoulder disabilities are being remanded for additional VA examinations.

The case was remanded for additional medical examination to assess the Veteran's disability, including functional losses due to pain and other symptoms.

The appeal is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and examinations for the remaining issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused the current condition, and no medical nexus between the veteran's military service and his current left shoulder disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids and rectal bleeding, a bilateral hip condition, a right shoulder condition, and a bilateral wrist condition as there was no evidence of current diagnoses or a nexus to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a low back condition, and bilateral knee condition as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, to include as neuritis; personality disorder; and an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder and anxiety disorder were denied because there was no evidence of a current disability or that any claimed condition is related to his active military service.

The Board granted a 20 percent evaluation for the service-connected right chronic rotator cuff injury and post-operative left shoulder impingement syndrome, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.

The Board remands the claim for a higher rating for the Veteran's right shoulder disorder to obtain an updated VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability as there was no evidence of chronic residuals from in-service injuries, and the first documentation of any such condition occurred several decades after separation from active service.

The Board must remand the claims for service connection for a left shoulder and left hip condition to obtain an orthopedic examination to determine if these conditions are related to the Veteran's time in service, including an incident described by him during parachute training.

The Board denied service connection for deep vein thrombosis of the left leg, sleep apnea, and post-traumatic stress disorder as there was no competent medical evidence establishing a link to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of various joints, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions as there is no evidence of a current disability or that any of these conditions are related to his period of military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with fibrosis, a right shoulder disorder, bilateral lower extremity claudication, post-traumatic stress disorder, porphyria cutanea tarda, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded for further development.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including a medical examination and review of VA outpatient records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, with the effective date of the increased rating for traumatic degenerative changes, right shoulder being May 10, 2006.

The veteran withdrew appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, skin disorder, asbestos exposure, lung disorder, buttocks injury, arthritis of the dorsal spine (claimed as back, left hand, neck, knees, ankles, and legs), pes planus, refractive error, cystitis, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, left shoulder, enlarged heart, and compression fracture, T3-8.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left ear otitis media, and found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for increased initial evaluations for his other conditions.