Shoulder decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected shrapnel wound of the left shoulder was denied. The RO also denied claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for melanoma, heart condition, and diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of this rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling examinations to assess his neck, back, hips, knees, shoulders, and ankles.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, an initial compensable evaluation for lumbar degenerative disc disease L4-L5 with spondylolisthesis, and increased rating for residuals of dislocation, scar, and degenerative joint disease, right shoulder were denied. The Veteran was granted an initial 10 percent evaluation for his lumbar degenerative disc disease L4-L5 with spondylolisthesis.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The Board finds that the Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms are related to his military service and grants this claim.

The Board has granted service connection for right eye cataracts as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. The remaining claims of service connection for shoulder and eye disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a neck injury is denied due to lack of evidence showing additional disability or death resulting from VA care, treatment, or examination in February 2003. The right shoulder injury claim is remanded for further development.

The RO denied increased ratings for the appellant's right shoulder, wrist, knee and ankle disabilities.,The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of left shoulder, left ankle, or bilateral foot disorders. The nose fracture is considered resolved and no longer service-connected.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings for his service-connected right shoulder disability and associated scar, as well as for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected right inguinal hernia repair, were dismissed due to the Veteran's request to withdraw these issues. The issue of service connection for a back disorder was also addressed but is being remanded.

The Board is reopening the claims for service connection for hypertension, skin disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and right knee disability on the basis of new and material evidence. The claims will be remanded to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) for further development before readjudication.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right shoulder conditions, as well as his claim for an increased rating for hypothyroidism. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right shoulder tendonitis has been rated at 20 percent since the onset of his claim. The evidence does not show that a higher rating is warranted for any period during the appeal period.

The VA has denied the claims for increased ratings for left knee patella femoral pain syndrome, right knee patella femoral pain syndrome, and left shoulder tendonitis. The evidence does not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

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

The Board found no evidence that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are related to her service-connected endometriosis status post hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy, thus denying secondary service connection for back disability, shoulder disability, headaches, bilateral breast cysts, and neck pain.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, which included anterior dislocation with degenerative joint disease and a status-post hemiarthroplasty, was rated at 20 percent from January 18, 2006 to November 28, 2007. From January 1, 2009, the rating reverted back to 20 percent due to his left shoulder hemiarthroplasty.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for her service-connected upper back myositis and right shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for further examination and opinion regarding the relationship between his current disabilities, including head injury, back disability, shoulder disorders, cervical spine disorder, and tinnitus, and his active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection were granted, with a 40% disability rating assigned for left knee fusion with muscle atrophy. Service connection was denied for arthritis of the left hand, shoulder, and hip/low back disabilities.