Shoulder decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate any of these claims.,The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and new and material evidence has been submitted that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate his claims for a chronic shoulder disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and deviated nasal septum.,,,,

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran did not suffer from gunshot wound residuals of the right shoulder, a neck disability, or a low back strain during service. The skin disorder was also not linked to exposure to Agent Orange. As such, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Veteran's left shoulder disorder is service-connected as secondary to his right shoulder strain with arthroscopic repair of the rotator cuff.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ventral hernia and umbilical hernia, as well as degenerative joint disease of the acromioclavicular joint of the left shoulder, were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for residuals of a lumbar spine injury with degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 15, 1993 for the grant of service connection and a compensable evaluation for residual scar of a gunshot wound (GSW) of the left elbow was denied. The Board found that there was no informal claim prior to September 15, 1993 for any shoulder or ulnar nerve disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not proximately due to or the result of her service-connected hypothyroidism.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence linking any of the claimed disabilities to service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a change in hearing officer and the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for increased evaluations of asthmatic bronchitis and tinnitus.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is found to be at least as likely as not due to his service-connected right knee disability. For the period from April 28, 2006, to April 8, 2008, the Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent disabling. Since April 8, 2008, it has been rated at 20 percent disabling.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain updated treatment records and schedule examinations for the Veteran's right shoulder, right arm, and right elbow disabilities. The claims are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no competent medical evidence showing that any of the claimed conditions had their onset in service or within one year after discharge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left shoulder disabilities are related to his in-service complaints of bilateral shoulder pain, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 30 percent, but the evidence does not show that his range of motion is limited to 25 degrees from the side even taking into account his complaints of pain. Therefore, an increased rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the September 2004 rating decision is not new and material, thus denying the appellant's attempt to reopen her claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's right knee disability is found to be causally related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder, bilateral hearing loss, sinus bradycardia, and anemia are not service-connected.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis for any of these conditions.

The Board has restored service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder disability and continues to grant a 20 percent rating for his left elbow disability. The issue of TDIU remains pending.