Shoulder decisions — 2009

The appeal is remanded to provide the appellant with VCAA notice and obtain additional medical records.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder, lower back disorder, left ankle disorder, and sinusitis as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including Type II Diabetes Mellitus, hypertension, chronic sinusitis, a skin condition, osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, thumbs, and knees, diverticulosis, and hiatal hernia and GERD, as none were found to be related to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board remands the case to the RO for additional development, including a search for medical records from Parris Island and service personnel records.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's left shoulder injury, right and left tibial stress reactions, bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, and depression. However, a 30 percent rating was granted for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis effective August 3, 2007.

The veteran is entitled to service connection for a right shoulder disability on the basis of in-service aggravation and an undiagnosed multi-symptom illness manifested by blurry vision, headaches, joint pain, fatigue, memory loss, and personality changes.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding no evidence of an injury during service and noting that the first indication of any left shoulder problem was several years after discharge.

The veteran's right shoulder disability was incurred in active service and, therefore, service connection is warranted.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to address the veteran's left shoulder disorder and its potential relation to service, specifically considering an in-service treatment report from 1967.

The veteran's service connection claims for right shoulder degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, and right ankle degenerative joint disease were granted.

The veteran's right shoulder disability has not been productive of complaints or objective findings that would warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and service connection were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of current disability related to his claimed conditions during active service.

The veteran's pre-existing left shoulder disability was not aggravated by active service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and back disorder were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the previously denied claims. The claim for PTSD was remanded for further development.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for Achilles tendonitis, gastrointestinal bleed, left shoulder condition, peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment only, special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status, and evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for chronic myopathy secondary to the use of steroids for a service connected disability.

The veteran is to be scheduled for a new VA orthopedic examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current disability of the back, shoulders, and neck, including whether such conditions are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the shoulders and left hip as they were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his left shoulder disability was denied as the evidence did not support an increased evaluation.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but remanded the claims for higher ratings for the right shoulder and low back disabilities to obtain updated VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder and denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee. However, as of April 8, 2008, the veteran's lumbar strain was rated at 40 percent.