Shoulder decisions — 2009

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and found that the veteran's gunshot wound residuals involving Muscle Group IV were manifested by moderately severe overall impairment, warranting a 20 percent rating.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for residuals of low back, left shoulder and neck injuries, as well as the claim for prostate cancer, due to an inadequate medical opinion from a previous VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder, and left hand disabilities as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within the relevant time frame, and no medical evidence linking them to service.

The veteran's PTSD did not cause occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, resulting in a denial of an initial rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and a left shoulder disability, finding that the preponderance of evidence was against these claims.

The Board found that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD, but not for hearing loss, a left knee disorder, or subcutaneous lumps. The claims for chronic prostatitis and urinary disorder were denied.

The veteran's service-connected pyelonephritis with hypertension was rated at 60 percent, and he was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic headache disorder was reopened and granted as secondary to a service-connected low back disability. The claim for a left shoulder disorder was denied.

The Board remands the case to obtain a clarifying medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current hearing loss, tinnitus, and left shoulder disorder that may be present.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's knee, shoulder, tinnitus, and headache conditions, but granted a 10% rating for gastroesophageal reflux with hiatal hernia.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for disorders of the neck, legs, shoulders, and arms as secondary to a service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected conditions, finding that the current ratings were appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition, low back condition, and right leg condition to the RO/AMC for further development.

The veteran does not have additional left shoulder disability which is due to VA treatment in which the proximate cause was carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA in furnishing the surgery; or due to an event not reasonably foreseeable.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including a VA examination for the right shoulder and an opinion on the etiology of diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for numbness of the bilateral upper extremities, as there was no competent medical evidence of a disorder manifested by numbness of the bilateral upper extremities.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The veteran was also denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a 10 percent rating for residuals of a fracture of the left distal radius and higher ratings for both the fracture and venereal herpes.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain, left hip disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, rashes in the groin area, and a heart attack, as none were found to be related to his period of active service or secondary to herbicide exposure.

The veteran's left knee disability was rated at 10 percent, and his left shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent.