Shoulder decisions — 2010

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, as well as his right shoulder disability. The evidence does not support a finding of current diagnoses or a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board found no evidence of a current right shoulder disability due to an in-service disease or injury, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied due to her failure to report for a VA examination scheduled in August 2007. The Board found that she did not provide good cause for missing the examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while significant, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, schedule a VA examination, and issue a supplemental statement of the case for his PTSD claim.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO in Wichita, Kansas due to the Veteran's request.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disorder, neck disorder, or radiculopathy of the legs due to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for most conditions, and there was no indication of any exposure to known causative agents.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to adenocarcinoma of the colon, which is not service-connected. The Board found that none of his service-connected conditions caused or contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II, complications, hernia residuals, eye disorders, vascular disease, neuropathy, nephropathy, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not support such a higher rating based on the criteria provided by VA.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing supplemental opinions from a VA examiner. The Veteran's claims of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability and arthritis of the shoulders are on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder tendonitis and ulcerative colitis are service-connected. The Veteran's left shoulder tendonitis is linked to his in-service treatment, while his ulcerative colitis is linked to symptoms he experienced during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for further examination and development of the record.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for right shoulder and left hip degenerative changes have been granted, with a rating of 10 percent effective August 1, 2007.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by limited range of motion, has been rated at 30 percent since the appeal period began. This rating is based on limitation of motion under Diagnostic Code 5201.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of head, neck, shoulder, back, hip, knee, or tremor disorders related to his military service, including a claimed motorcycle accident. As such, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations was withdrawn, and the Board dismissed the claims as there is no longer an active issue regarding the left shoulder mal-union fracture. The issues of entitlement to increased evaluations for residuals of a left elbow fracture and back strain with degenerative disc disease were not granted.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's service for his left elbow and bilateral hand, wrist, shoulder, and ankle conditions. The right elbow strain was granted as service connected.