Shoulder decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a link between the claimed disabilities and his service-connected conditions, or any other presumptive basis.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service, and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including heart disease and arthritis in multiple joints. The appeal will be remanded to allow for additional examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's fungal skin disability of the feet and toenail fungus have been granted service connection. Service connection for bilateral shoulder/cervical spine disability has also been granted, but no rating assigned. The Veteran's lumbar sprain with degenerative disc disease is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected chronic right shoulder strain, effective from when the claim was received in December 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain VA treatment records from 1995-2002 and Social Security Administration records. The case will be reviewed again after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's left shoulder disorder is rated as noncompensable, and his left foot dyshidrotic eczema is rated at 10%. The claims for increased ratings are denied.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his left shoulder disability was denied. He is currently rated at 20 percent since December 11, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current left shoulder disability and denied service connection for this condition. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for his left knee disability was granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for somatoform disorder was denied as there is no evidence showing that entitlement to this benefit arose prior to June 8, 2006.

The Board has determined that the appellant's preexisting right shoulder disability was aggravated by injuries sustained during periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in April and September 2005.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability and hearing loss (left ear) were not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder dislocation and associated conditions have been rated at 20 percent since December 2, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed cervical spine disease, left arm numbness, left leg numbness, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and left hip disability to include bone graft and scar are not related to service. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his right shoulder tendonitis. The matter will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at a noncompensable rating, and the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for left shoulder dislocation was partially granted with a 10% evaluation effective April 17, 2008.,Prior to April 17, 2008, the Veteran's left shoulder dislocation is rated at a noncompensable rating. After April 17, 2008, he is entitled to a 10% evaluation.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the Veteran's claimed disabilities to his military service, and thus denied all three claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant's left shoulder malignant melanoma is the result of sun exposure during his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for cervical spine and right shoulder disorders. The underlying issues of service connection for these conditions are being remanded for further development.