Shoulder decisions — 2010

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder arthritis and right ear hearing loss, finding that these conditions are due to injuries incurred during the Veteran's active service.,Service connection is established for a current diagnosis of left shoulder arthritis as it is considered direct service-connected. Right ear hearing loss is presumed due to combat in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, right median nerve paralysis (carpal tunnel syndrome), and tendonitis and separation of the right shoulder as secondary to a prior work injury in 1988. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right shoulder pain, skin condition of the head and arms (including as due to herbicide exposure), hearing loss, and tinnitus were all denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability in service or within one year post-service, and that any current conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for the residuals of a left shoulder dislocation was granted, with an effective date set at July 8, 2005. The appeal is based on his contention that he should have received this rating earlier due to surgery performed in 1970.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a bilateral shoulder condition or neck condition that is causally related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right leg injury was reopened. His claim for asbestosis was denied. The Board found that his left shoulder disorder, post-acromioplasty, warranted a 30% evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine, left hand, and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition, residuals of a right wrist injury, and bilateral eye condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right knee disorders are denied. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link between any diagnosed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability and a psychiatric disability, other than anxiety neurosis, were denied. The claim for the shoulder disability was previously denied on direct service connection grounds, while the psychiatric disability claim is based on secondary service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because a timely substantive appeal was not received within the required time frame.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is not service connected, and his lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease has been rated appropriately based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's reported symptoms and in-service injury are sufficient to establish a current disability related to his active duty. Service connection was denied for a left elbow condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DJD of the right and left knees, as well as DJD of the left shoulder, were denied by the RO. The RO found that the current evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his knee conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for further examination and consideration of whether there are any factors warranting referral for extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right shoulder arthritis, left knee disability, and right thumb fracture are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a shoulder disorder and hearing loss. The claims were previously denied in August 2002 and March 2005, respectively, due to lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lipomas, bilateral hearing loss, and knee disabilities were denied. The Veteran was granted compensable ratings for scars from March 2, 2009 onwards, but not before that date. Ratings in excess of the current ones were denied for right and left knee osteoarthritis as well as laxity.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder strain and bilateral knee strain are not related to her period of service, or any aspect thereof. Therefore, she did not meet the criteria for service connection.