Shoulder decisions — 2011

The Board found that the Veteran's current left shoulder disorder did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and is not attributable to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new theories of entitlement and incomplete service records.

The Board has determined that a current right shoulder condition is proximately due to or the result of service-connected fracture of the lower left radius, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have a bilateral shoulder disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, or low back disorder for VA compensation purposes. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Veteran's service-connected chorioretinitis of the left eye and postoperative left shoulder disability were evaluated under their appropriate diagnostic codes, but no higher ratings are assigned due to lack of evidence supporting such a finding based on current medical findings and regulations.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is rated at 30 percent effective September 5, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete unit records for the Veteran's account of an in-service injury. The claim will be returned after compliance with the requested development.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder degenerative arthritis with impingement syndrome is currently rated at 20 percent, effective December 1, 2008. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected SP left knee surgery with posttraumatic arthritis is rated as noncompensably disabling. The Board finds that a compensable evaluation is warranted for this disability throughout the claims period based on painful noncompensable limitation of motion under Diagnostic Code 5003.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is not related to his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities are related to his in-service injuries, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disability did not begin in service, was not caused by any incident of service, and was not caused by or permanently worsened by his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions due to service, and therefore denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, post-surgery status post Bankart Repair with degenerative changes, is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ankylosing spondylitis of the thoracolumbar spine is granted, and his right shoulder disability remains at a 20% rating.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current right shoulder degenerative joint disease is related to an in-service injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The appeal of entitlement to service connection for right-sided upper extremity weakness (claimed as right arm pain) was withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of each shoulder, including right elbow fracture and arthritis. The Veteran is assigned a 10% rating for this disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen her claims for service connection for left shoulder and right ankle disabilities, finding no new and material evidence. The VA treatment records provided since July 2002 do not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

The most probative medical evidence indicates that the Veteran's current low back and left shoulder/arm disorders are not related to her military service, including specifically to the pain she experienced in service. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches are attributed to a known clinical diagnosis of tension-type/muscle-contraction headaches. The claim for increased evaluations for his colitis and migratory arthritis is denied as the evidence does not support higher ratings.